The Department of the Interior (DOI) has halted the Revolution Wind project off the coasts of Rhode Island and Connecticut, signaling a major shift in energy policy under President Donald Trump. The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) suspended work on the offshore wind development, which had been approved by the Biden administration in 2023. This move aligns with Trump’s broader push to roll back federal support for wind and solar initiatives in favor of more traditional energy sources.
“Americans deserve energy that is affordable, reliable, and built to last — not experimental and expensive wind projects,” said DOI deputy press secretary Aubrie Spady. She emphasized the administration’s commitment to Trump’s “Energy Dominance Agenda,” which prioritizes fossil fuels and dismisses large-scale renewable energy efforts as inefficient and costly to taxpayers.
The halt follows Trump’s July 7 executive order that eliminated federal preferences for wind and solar energy. The administration also reversed approval of Idaho’s Lava Ridge Wind Project — a 231-turbine project approved in late 2024. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum cited legal deficiencies, ecological harm, and the negative impact on rural communities as reasons for the decision, underscoring a wider effort to dismantle Biden-era clean energy policies.
The offshore wind industry has faced growing scrutiny. A 2024 turbine malfunction near Nantucket scattered debris along the coast and caused temporary beach closures. Environmental groups and fishermen have also raised concerns over marine life disruption, transmission infrastructure, and long-term economic consequences.
In Idaho, opposition to the Lava Ridge project was broad and bipartisan. By early 2025, lawmakers, local agencies, and Governor Brad Little had voiced strong objections, with Little issuing an executive order directing state agencies to oppose the project. These developments reflect the Trump administration’s broader strategy to steer energy policy away from renewables and back toward conventional sources like oil, gas, and coal.
