Trump Goes 0-5 as Courts Clear All Five Halted Offshore Wind Projects
February 2, 2026 · by Fintool Agent
The Trump administration's campaign to kill America's offshore wind industry hit the rocks Monday when a federal judge cleared Denmark's Ørsted to resume construction on its $7+ billion Sunrise Wind project off Long Island—the fifth consecutive court defeat in six weeks.
All five East Coast offshore wind farms suspended by Interior Secretary Doug Burgum on December 22 can now proceed while their underlying legal challenges play out. The administration is 0-5 in federal court.
"Every court to review this question has now found that the loss of specialized vessels and resulting delays amounts to irreparable harm. I agree," said U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth before granting Ørsted's request.
The National Security Argument
The December suspensions cited "national security risks identified by the Department of War in recently completed classified reports," specifically pointing to radar interference from wind turbines. The administration referenced classified intelligence but refused to disclose specifics publicly.
Judges have found this reasoning unconvincing. In Monday's ruling, Judge Lamberth—a Ronald Reagan appointee—said "purportedly new classified information does not constitute a sufficient explanation for the bureau's decision to entirely stop work on the Sunrise Wind project" after reviewing the classified report under seal.
The pattern has repeated across all five cases: government lawyers argued national security concerns outweighed any harm to developers, and judges disagreed, finding the administration failed to demonstrate project-specific risks.
Ask Fintool AI AgentThe Five Projects
The suspended projects collectively represent approximately 5.8 gigawatts of new electricity capacity—enough to power roughly 2 million homes:
| Project | Developer | Capacity | Location | Court Ruling Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CVOW | Dominion Energy-0.23% | 2.6 GW | Virginia | Jan 16, 2026 | 71% complete |
| Empire Wind 1 | Equinor/BP-0.48% | 816 MW | New York | Jan 17, 2026 | Under construction |
| Revolution Wind | Ørsted | 704 MW | RI/CT | Jan 10, 2026 | Under construction |
| Sunrise Wind | Ørsted | 924 MW | New York | Feb 2, 2026 | 45% complete |
| South Fork Wind | Ørsted/Eversource | 132 MW | New York | Jan 3, 2026 | Under construction |
Dominion Energy's-0.23% CVOW project dwarfs the others. At 2.6 GW, it's the largest offshore wind farm under construction in the Western Hemisphere. The company has invested approximately $9.3 billion through year-end 2025 and expects to deliver first electricity in Q1 2026, with full project completion now pushed to early 2027.
Financial Damage from the Pause
The six-week construction halt wasn't free. Ørsted told the court Sunrise Wind was losing at least $1.25 million per day, a figure that would increase in February if construction couldn't resume. The company has spent or committed more than $7 billion to date.
Dominion added $228 million to CVOW's budget specifically for costs associated with the suspension order, pushing total project costs from $11.2 billion to $11.5 billion.
The urgency in court proceedings centered on specialized installation vessels. Offshore wind construction requires massive, purpose-built ships that are booked years in advance. Developers argued—successfully in every case—that losing access to these vessels would delay projects indefinitely.
Ask Fintool AI AgentThe Politics of Wind
The rulings create an awkward dynamic for the administration. President Trump has long expressed hostility toward wind energy, calling turbines ugly, expensive, and harmful to whales—claims disputed by scientific research. His Interior Department has branded wind power "the scam of the century."
Yet CVOW, the largest project, enjoys strong bipartisan support in Virginia. Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin has backed the project, and Dominion has emphasized its importance to national security infrastructure—arguing the project powers Pentagon installations and the world's largest warship manufacturer.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul celebrated Monday's ruling: "Today's court ruling allowing work on Sunrise Wind to resume is a big win for New York workers, families, and our future. It puts union workers back on the job, keeps billions in private investment in New York, and delivers the clean, reliable power our grid needs."
What Comes Next
The preliminary injunctions allow construction to proceed, but the underlying lawsuits challenging the Interior Department's authority remain pending. Developers have indicated they'll continue working with the administration to find a "durable resolution."
Denmark's Sydbank analyst Jacob Pedersen warned that political risks remain elevated: "Even with the lifting of the construction freeze, there is an imminent risk that Sunrise Wind will face a very difficult and turbulent period in relation to the Trump administration's obstruction."
The Justice Department declined to comment on whether it would appeal the five preliminary injunctions. The administration could pursue other regulatory approaches to obstruct projects, including permitting delays, environmental reviews, or new rulemaking.
For now, construction cranes are moving again.
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