Orsted and Skyborn Renewables’ 704MW Revolution Wind project off the US east coast has been ordered to halt offshore work by the Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM).
Orsted confirmed that subsidiary Revolution Wind LLC, its 50/50 joint venture with Global Infrastructure Partner’s Skyborn, received the stop-work order on 22 August.
BOEM stated it has issued to order to allow time to “address concerns that have arising during the review” the Department of the Interior is undertaking prompted by a January order by President Donald Trump.
“In particular, BOEM is seeking to address concerns related to the protection of national security interests of the US and prevention of interference with reasonable uses of the exclusive economic zone, the high seas, and the territorial seas,” BOEM stated in a letter to the project.
Orsted said it is complying with the directive and is taking steps to cease offshore activities, prioritising the safety of workers and the environment.
Revolution Wind began offshore construction last year after receiving final BOEM approval and is 80% complete, Orsted said. All offshore foundations are in place and 45 of 65 Siemens Gamesa turbines have been installed.
The developer is “evaluating all options to resolve the matter expeditiously”, including direct engagement with permitting agencies for clarification or resolution and potential legal proceedings.
Its stated aim is to resume construction and continue towards a commercial operations date in the second half of 2026.
Orsted stressed that Revolution Wind is fully permitted, having secured all necessary federal and state authorisations, including a Construction and Operations Plan approval letter issued on 17 November 2023. The plan was the culmination of reviews that began more than nine years earlier.
The project holds 20-year power purchase agreements to deliver 400MW of clean electricity to Rhode Island and 304MW to Connecticut, equivalent to the needs of more than 350,000 homes.
Orsted pointed to performance at the nearby South Fork Wind farm, which uses the same turbine technology and achieved a 53% capacity factor in the first half of 2025, matching baseload resources in New York.
The company underlined its wider investment in US offshore wind, including energy generation, grid upgrades, port infrastructure and supply chain development across more than 40 states.
Revolution Wind alone is employing hundreds of local union workers for both onshore and offshore construction, with Orsted’s US portfolio so far totalling about 4 million labour union hours, half of them at the Revolution project.
Orsted said it is assessing the potential financial implications of the stop-work order under a range of scenarios, including possible legal action.
It will update the market on any impact to the plan announced on 11 August to launch a rights issue, the company added.
The developer advised existing shareholders and prospective investors to await further announcements.
Oceantic chief Liz Burdock said the stop-work order is “unlawful”.
“This dramatic action further erodes investor confidence in the US market across all industries and undermines progress on shared national priorities-shipyard revitalisation, steel and port investments, and energy dominance.
“In fact, halting work on Revolution Wind will drive up energy costs for consumers, idle Gulf Coast vessel operators that have invested hundreds of millions of dollars in new or retrofitted vessels, and jeopardise the livelihoods of union workers.”
“Just days ago, the Administration released documents showing it was unable to justify its previous stop-work order. Today’s action is no different.
“The Oceantic Network and the hundreds of American suppliers that make up its membership urges the Department of the Interior to reverse course immediately and allow this project to move forward, protecting jobs, lowering costs, and securing America’s energy independence.”