U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal and the governors of four Northeast states pushed back Tuesday against a new federal order suspending construction of the Revolution Wind offshore wind project, escalating a dispute that is likely to return to court.
Blumenthal, a Connecticut Democrat, called on Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to provide a classified briefing by Jan. 8 detailing the national security concerns cited by the Trump administration in halting the project. In a letter released Tuesday, Blumenthal said similar claims made earlier this year were rejected by a federal judge as insufficient to justify stopping construction.
Blumenthal said the administration has yet to explain why Revolution Wind — which is nearing completion — now poses a security risk after years of federal review. He warned that further delays could increase electricity costs for consumers and jeopardize jobs tied to the project.
The stop-work order was issued Monday by the Interior Department’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management and applies to five offshore wind projects along the East Coast, including Revolution Wind, which is being staged out of the State Pier in New London. Developers have said the 704-megawatt project is about 85% complete.
Later Tuesday, Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont joined the governors of Massachusetts, New York and Rhode Island in a joint statement criticizing the administration’s decision and signaling a willingness to pursue legal action. The governors said pausing active offshore wind leases could disrupt energy planning efforts and create uncertainty for future infrastructure investment.
Connecticut Attorney General William Tong said Monday that the new order may conflict with a federal court injunction issued earlier this fall, which allowed construction to resume after a similar suspension imposed in August. Connecticut and Rhode Island previously sued over that action, arguing the federal government failed to support its national security claims.
Revolution Wind is expected to begin supplying electricity to the New England grid in 2026, providing power for roughly 350,000 homes. State officials said they are reviewing legal options in response to the latest federal action.
