Can Connecticut save a massive offshore wind project?

Gov. Ned Lamont expressed optimism about striking a deal with the Trump administration to restart Revolution Wind, which is set to power 350,000 homes across Connecticut and Rhode Island starting next year.

The multibillion-dollar project is now stalled after the U.S. Department of Interior abruptly ordered a halt to all work on Friday – even though construction is already 80% complete.

Off the coast of Rhode Island sits 45 fully assembled wind turbines, staged by hundreds of workers at the State Pier in New London. When another 20 turbines are completed in 2026, Revolution Wind is scheduled to supply Connecticut and Rhode Island with 704 megawatts of electricity.

The project is a major part of the Lamont administration’s plan to lower energy bills, which are some of the highest in the nation.

“This 704-megawatt project is critical for New England,” said Eversource CEO Joe Nolan. “We feel confident that we’ll be able to work through some of these challenges and address any of the issues that have taken place.”

Connecticut has also invested more than $300 million in State Pier upgrades to build wind turbines – three times more than the original cost estimate.

“This project is 80% constructed,” said Katie Dykes, commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. “There’s billions of dollars that have gone into this investment – a nine-year permitting process.”

But late Friday – with no advance warning – the U.S. Department of Interior ordered Revolution Wind to “halt all ongoing activities” to “address concerns related to the protection of national security interests.”

An Interior spokesperson declined to detail what those concerns are, but the U.S. Commerce Department recently launched an investigation into whether wind turbine imports threaten national security.

“This decision isn’t about national security,” said Sen. Chris Murphy. “It’s just a political decision by the President to help his friends in the oil and gas industry.”

President Donald Trump is a vocal critic of offshore wind. He placed a moratorium on all new projects just after taking office, and Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” speeds up the end of tax credits for wind and solar projects.

“We will drill, baby, drill,” Trump said during his inauguration speech.

Republicans in Connecticut have their doubts, too.

“The costs of these new offshore wind projects are being subsidized heavily by ratepayers in Connecticut and other New England states. And they could cost a lot of money on our electric bills as well,” said state Sen. Ryan Fazio (R-Greenwich), who recently entered the race for governor. “Electricity is about $40 on the wholesale market, and we’re buying this for $100.”

But electric leaders warned that rates could jump if Revolution Wind isn't built.

"Beyond near-term impacts to reliability in the summer and winter peak periods, delays in the availability of new resources will adversely affect New England's economy and industrial growth, including potential future data centers," ISO-New England, which manages the region's grid, said in a statement.

Rhode Island leaders also blasted the decision.

“The latest move by the Trump administration is an attack on Rhode Islanders," said R.I. Gov. Dan McKee. "It’s an attack on our jobs. It’s an attack on our energy. It’s an attack on our families and their ability to pay the bills."

Lamont said he is talking to the Trump administration and thinks a compromise can be reached on Revolution Wind.

“I think there’s a deal to be had. And I have to see what the ask is,” he told reporters on Monday. “I have no idea what the ask is. I knew what it was for [Gov.] Kathy Hochul down in New York.”

In April, the Interior Department issued a similar pause on the Empire Wind project off Long Island. But construction was allowed to resume a month later, after Hochul reportedly dropped opposition to a new natural gas pipeline through New York state. Lamont said he spoke to Hochul over the weekend.

But Murphy warned about making a deal with Trump.

“I just think we all have to be really careful about doing trades with this president that could see this country down a very dangerous, anti-democratic rabbit hole,” Murphy cautioned.

For now, Lamont is ruling out a lawsuit.

“We aren’t there yet,” he said. “We’re going to be sitting down. We’re going to be having these conversations. I feel very confident that this is such a dumb decision, it’s going to get fixed.”

But Revolution Wind’s developer said that all options are on the table.

“Ørsted is evaluating all options to resolve the matter expeditiously,” the Danish company said in a statement. “This includes engagement with relevant permitting agencies for any necessary clarification or resolution as well as through potential legal proceedings.”