Author: admin

Two Scandinavian offshore wind power firms have asked a US court for a preliminary injunction against US President Donald Trump’s order to pause their projects in the United States.

The Trump administration announced late last month a pause on the leases for five offshore wind projects under construction in the United States, citing national security risks.

One of the companies, Danish energy giant Orsted, has been building offshore wind facilities off the US East Coast through a joint venture firm, Revolution Wind.

Revolution Wind argues the lease suspension order violates applicable law and that a continuation of the order would substantially harm the project.

Orsted says the project is about 87 percent complete and ready to supply power to more than 350,000 households this year.

The Trump administration argues the movement of massive turbine blades causes radar interference, but Revolution Wind says it secured all required federal and state permits in 2023, following extensive reviews.

Another firm, Norwegian energy giant Equinor, has been implementing the Empire Wind Project through its US subsidiary. It is seeking a preliminary injunction to allow construction to continue while the litigation proceeds.

Trump’s strict regulation of offshore wind projects is a reversal of the previous administration’s energy and climate change policies.