Rhode Island, August 24, 2025
News Summary
The Revolution Wind offshore wind project, anticipated to power over 350,000 homes, has been halted by a federal stop-work order. With 80% of the project complete and well underway, Rhode Island and Connecticut leaders express concern over the implications for state climate goals and job creation. Amid political tensions regarding ties to the oil industry, state officials vow to challenge the decision while seeking clarity on the national security concerns cited by the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management.
Providence — Big blow to a nearly finished offshore wind project has golf-town chatter buzzing
A late swing from the feds stops a project that was nearly in the clubhouse
If you follow the fairways and the evening news, this one reads like a dramatic back nine: the federal government has slapped a stop-work order on the Revolution Wind offshore wind farm that sits about 15 miles south of Rhode Island’s coast. The project was expected to be Rhode Island and Connecticut’s first commercial-scale offshore wind farm and to supply power to more than 350,000 homes. It was also looking like a major win for state climate goals and for jobs up and down the shoreline.
Work had already moved well down the fairway. The project is roughly 80% complete, with 45 of 65 turbines installed. Construction kicked off in 2023 and the plan was to have everything fully operational next year. Now the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, or BOEM, has ordered the developer Ørsted to stop while federal officials re-examine the lease under an executive order from the White House that targets renewable energy leasing practices over national security concerns.
State leaders tee off — and vow to fight the call
Rhode Island’s governor and Connecticut’s governor have reacted like club captains who’ve just seen a tournament match suddenly postponed. Both said they intend to pursue every legal and political option to reverse the halt. Rhode Island’s attorney general warned that without this wind farm, the state’s climate law would be badly compromised, calling the project a key piece of the plan to meet emissions goals.
A U.S. senator from Connecticut framed the stoppage as politically driven, pointing to ties between the current administration and the oil industry, and saying the move looks like a deliberate setback for clean energy. This isn’t the first notable pause on offshore projects — work on another big project serving New York waters was also stopped earlier this year.
What the feds cited — and what they didn’t
BOEM’s acting director said the halt is tied to national security interests and that the project must be re-examined. Specific details about those security concerns have not been released publicly. That lack of detail has left local officials, environmental advocates, and the project developer frustrated and scrambling for clarity — the same way a golfer wants to know an unexpected ruling before taking the next shot.
Fans and foes react — all eyes on the rough
Reaction has been split. Environmental and clean-energy supporters are alarmed, saying the stoppage threatens climate targets, good-paying construction and manufacturing jobs, and could push energy costs higher for consumers. A nonprofit that opposes offshore wind celebrated the halt, arguing it protects fragile ocean habitats.
And then there’s the political theater: the administration has a history of deriding wind projects, including comments about how turbines affect views on golf course landscapes and even bizarre claims about health impacts from turbine noise. Those remarks have added extra fuel to the debate and made this stoppage feel less like routine review and more like a full-on match with big stakes.
Why golf fans should care
Golfers understand course maintenance, long-term planning, and the pain of losing a well-placed shot to an unexpected hazard. Energy infrastructure is similar: it needs steady investment, long timelines, and stable rules. The Revolution Wind project represented a long-term play toward cleaner energy and lower emissions — the type of strategic thinking every club pro respects. If projects like this keep getting halted, it means less certainty about where power comes from, which can ripple into higher costs and fewer sustainable options at home — the kind of thing that matters when you’re deciding whether to power your home office, your clubhouse, or the floodlights at the practice range.
Where the ball lies now
The project sits in a holding pattern. Officials say they’ll press for more information and challenge the stop-work order in court and through political channels. Local leaders are united in saying they will fight for the project to resume. How fast that happens — and whether it happens at all before the planned full operation next year — is uncertain.
Down the line
This halt is another significant moment in the larger contest over how fast the U.S. ramps up offshore wind. For now, the Revolution Wind sits like a flagstick in a bunker: visible, contested, and waiting for a careful recovery shot.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened to the Revolution Wind project?
The federal government issued a stop-work order requiring the project’s developer to pause construction while federal officials re-examine the lease over national security concerns.
How far along was the project?
The project was about 80% complete, with 45 of 65 turbines installed and construction that began in 2023 aiming for full operation next year.
Who is involved in the dispute?
Key players include the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, the developer Ørsted, the state officials from Rhode Island and Connecticut, federal lawmakers, and national interest groups on both sides of the offshore wind debate.
Why did the federal government stop work?
The stated reason is national security concerns and a required re-examination after an executive order targeting renewable energy leases. Specific security details have not been publicly disclosed.
What are the potential impacts?
Possible impacts include threats to state climate targets, potential job losses in construction and supply chains, delays in clean-energy generation, and potential increases in energy costs for consumers.
Where can I find updates?
Updates will likely come from state officials, the developer, and federal agencies as they pursue legal, political, or administrative paths to resolve the stop-work order.
Quick reference table
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Project name | Revolution Wind |
| Location | About 15 miles south of Rhode Island’s coast |
| Turbines installed / total | 45 of 65 |
| Percent complete | Approximately 80% |
| Homes powered (expected) | Over 350,000 |
| Construction start | 2023 |
| Planned full operation | Next year (subject to changes due to halt) |
| Reason for halt | Federal stop-work order citing national security re-examination |
| Agency ordering halt | U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) |
End of report. Consider this the 18th hole update — the tournament isn’t over, but the clubhouse lights are on and everyone’s waiting to see who makes the next move.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
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Additional Resources
- The Guardian: Wind Farm Rhode Island-Connecticut
- ABC News: Trump Halts Work on New England Offshore Wind Project
- New York Times: Trump Administration Halts Revolution Wind
- GoLocalProv: Rhode Island’s Mega Offshore Wind Project Halted
- WPRI: Trump Admin Halts Revolution Wind Project Off RI Coast
- Wikipedia: Renewable Energy in the United States
- Google Search: Revolution Wind Project
- Google Scholar: Offshore Wind Energy
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Offshore Wind Farm
- Google News: Revolution Wind Project
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