The Revolution Wind offshore energy project, which serves Connecticut and Rhode Island, is finally moving forward after a long shutdown and court battle. Construction is back on track, with a projected completion in the second half of 2026.
The project aims to deliver hundreds of megawatts of clean power to New England homes. It’s also reaffirming Connecticut’s role in the growing offshore wind supply chain.
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Revolution Wind Back on Track After Federal Stop-Work Order
For months, Revolution Wind’s future looked up in the air. In August, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) issued a stop-work order that brought offshore construction to a halt.
That decision sent shockwaves through coastal towns like New London, Groton, Stonington, and Norwich. Local leaders had been counting on offshore wind to boost their economies.
The legal tide shifted when a federal judge overturned the stop-work order. The federal government decided not to appeal, clearing the way for work to resume offshore.
Even so, legal and policy debates over wind energy are still rumbling in Washington and state capitals like Hartford and Providence.
Location and Scope of the Offshore Wind Farm
Revolution Wind sits about 15 miles south of Rhode Island and 32 miles southeast of Connecticut, out in federally managed Atlantic waters. This location lets the project serve both states’ electric grids directly.
People have called it a shared regional investment rather than just a single-state project. Developers Ørsted and Skyborn Renewables said the project was about 85% finished as of early last month.
Construction had come a long way when federal regulators stepped in. Stopping work so late in the game really raised the stakes.
Construction Progress and Project Timeline
Despite the shutdown, crews made substantial progress on the water. Now, developers are hustling to keep the project on schedule while sticking to safety and environmental rules from the original approvals.
Turbines, Substations, and Foundations Installed
Out of 65 planned turbines, 52 have already gone up. All turbine foundations are set, and two offshore substations are in place to collect and transmit power back to shore.
Those substations act as the offshore “nerve centers,” routing electricity into the regional grid. They serve communities from Bridgeport and New Haven up through Waterbury and into Rhode Island.
Ørsted says Revolution Wind is still on track for completion in the second half of 2026. Once it’s up and running, the project will deliver 704 megawatts—enough to power about 325,000 homes, if their estimates hold up.
This will be the first offshore wind farm to serve both Connecticut and Rhode Island at the same time.
New London’s State Pier at the Center of Offshore Wind
On land, the project relies heavily on New London’s State Pier. The pier has been transformed into a major staging hub for turbine parts, foundations, and support vessels.
Redeveloping the pier has become one of the most closely watched infrastructure projects in southeastern Connecticut.
$300 Million Redevelopment and Local Jobs
Officials put the State Pier redevelopment at around $300 million. They justify the price by its expected long-term role serving multiple offshore wind projects.
The shutdown threatened that investment, along with jobs and contracts for businesses from Danbury to Middletown and beyond.
During the stop-work period, about 1,000 workers sat idle, according to project officials. Developers say the pause cost them about $2.3 million per day—a huge financial blow that worried city and town leaders all over the shoreline and inland.
Legal Battles and Political Crosscurrents
Revolution Wind has played out against a backdrop of sharp political disagreement over offshore wind and climate policy. The project’s been caught in the crossfire of shifting federal priorities and plenty of partisan rhetoric.
From Trump-Era Opposition to Ongoing Lawsuits
The Trump administration criticized wind energy, with former President Donald Trump calling it a “scam.” That skepticism led to regulatory pressure and eventually the stop-work order that froze Revolution Wind.
Connecticut and Rhode Island responded by suing over the shutdown. They argued it put billions in investment at risk and threatened clean energy goals for the region.
Ørsted and its partner got an injunction to restart work offshore, but another lawsuit from the states is still pending.
Recently, a federal judge struck down a nationwide halt on wind projects, calling it unlawful. That decision might affect similar disputes on the East Coast. For now, Revolution Wind is moving ahead, though the legal and political landscape keeps shifting.
What Revolution Wind Means for Connecticut’s Energy Future
Connecticut residents are watching closely as construction ramps up again. Offshore wind is still at the heart of the state’s long-term energy plans.
This project should help support regional climate targets and bring more variety to the power mix. It’s also expected to create steady jobs for coastal communities, which is a big deal for folks who live and work there.
By 2026, turbines out at sea should be generating electricity for homes, schools, and businesses in places like Stamford, Norwalk, New Britain, and Manchester. But there’s more riding on this than just power—it’s kind of a test for New England. Can the region overcome legal fights, shifting politics, and all those infrastructure headaches to actually build a grid that runs on offshore wind for the long haul?
Here is the source article for this story: Work on offshore wind project off CT coast resumes after federal shutdown
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