In a bold and consequential legal move, the Trump administration is preparing to revoke federal approval for the New England Wind offshore project off the coast of Massachusetts—a decision critics warn may stall critical clean energy infrastructure and derail regional economic growth.
According to a recent court filing by the Department of Justice, the administration plans to vacate the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s (BOEM) 2024 approval of the Construction and Operations Plan (COP) for Avangrid’s New England Wind project by October 10, 2025. This action arises amid the broader rollback of offshore wind initiatives under the Trump administration, which already includes reevaluations of SouthCoast Wind and a stop-work order on the approximately 80% completed Revolution Wind project in Rhode Island.
Opponents of the project, including local advocacy group ACK for Whales, filed a lawsuit against the approval, alleging violations of key environmental statutes such as the Marine Mammal Protection Act, the Endangered Species Act, the National Historic Preservation Act, and the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act.
The approval under scrutiny was originally issued following a multi-agency review in mid-2024. The joint Record of Decision (ROD) included mitigation measures to protect marine life, historic resources, and navigational safety and authorized up to 129 turbines with a combined capacity of approximately 2.6 GW—enough to power nearly 900,000 homes. New England Wind 1 was slated to commence construction in 2025 and begin delivering power by 2029; its twin, New England Wind 2, remained in planning.
With the COP approval now under threat, both project phases face uncertain futures. Specifically, New England Wind 1’s terminal had been expected to be built in Salem, with operational support and maintenance housed in New Bedford—where up to 100 jobs could vanish if the project collapses.
Critics argue the revocation puts significant regional economic revitalization at risk. The offshore wind plans were tied to substantial job creation, local manufacturing, and long-term investments. For instance, the project’s operations could have supported facilities in New Bedford, including plans for a crane manufacturing facility by Danish company Liftra.
Moreover, this action deepens uncertainty for offshore wind across the Atlantic seaboard. States like Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island had integrated New England Wind into their clean energy roadmaps, and its cancellation could derail procurement and climate objectives. The broader freeze on federal leasing and permitting, initiated by a January 2025 executive order, continues to reverberate across projects still in planning or early development.
The move reflects a sustained campaign by the Trump administration to curtail offshore wind—often described by officials as “ugly, expensive, and unreliable”—while favoring fossil fuel development and questioning the national security implications of turbines interfering with radar systems.
Industry leaders are responding in kind. Ørsted, the company overseeing Revolution Wind, has already launched legal action against the federal halt to its project, which was valued at $1.5 billion, nearly complete, and capable of powering over 350,000 homes. The financial shockwaves are evident: Ørsted’s stock plunged following the halt, and the company is pursuing a $9.4 billion emergency rights issue to offset investor uncertainty.
Local and state officials have decried the plan as shortsighted. For New Bedford officials, it’s a blow to anticipated growth. State leaders in Connecticut and Rhode Island have vowed to challenge the Revolution Wind halt, citing its importance to energy reliability and affordability.
Renewable energy advocates warn that this crackdown may undermine over $100 billion in anticipated offshore wind investments and jeopardize thousands of industry jobs. Recent reports reflect the impact—U.S. renewable energy investment declined by 36%, or $20.5 billion, in the first half of 2025, signaling erosion of investor confidence amid policy reversals.
As the October deadline approaches, all eyes are on the courts—and the fate of the New England Wind project. Will it be one of the first casualties in a sweeping rollback of U.S. offshore wind programs—or will legal challenges and political pressures preserve a rare opportunity for regional clean energy development?
The outcome may set a powerful precedent for how the United States balances environmental stewardship, clean energy transition, and economic opportunity in a politically polarized landscape.
