Ørsted, Equinor File Legal Challenge Over U.S. Wind Halt
Ørsted A/S and Equinor ASA have filed legal challenges against the Trump administration’s decision to halt construction of U.S. offshore wind projects, arguing that the government’s actions are unlawful and should be lifted pending a final court ruling.
The challenges relate to a recent suspension of five offshore wind leases on the U.S. East Coast, part of a broader policy shift aimed at curbing the growth of the offshore wind industry and reversing climate measures introduced under the previous administration.
The halt affects Revolution Wind, a joint venture involving Ørsted and Skyborn Renewables, as well as Empire Wind, developed by Equinor off the coast of New York. Revolution Wind is approximately 87% complete and expected to begin delivering electricity to U.S. homes later this year. Empire Wind is more than 60% complete, with Equinor having invested over $4 billion in the project.
This marks the second time both projects have faced stop-work orders. In earlier cases, court rulings and administrative reversals allowed construction to resume while legal proceedings continued.
In a statement, Ørsted said the continued suspension could cause substantial harm to the project and noted it is assessing additional legal options for other affected developments, including Sunrise Wind. Equinor similarly requested that the suspension be lifted while the court reviews the case.
The legal actions add uncertainty to the U.S. offshore wind sector, which has faced rising political, regulatory, and financing challenges over the past year.
Source: 4coffshore.com
