Four Governors Blast Trump Administration's Suspension of Revolution Wind Project

Governor Ned Lamont joined three neighboring governors Monday in condemning President Trump’s suspension of the Revolution Wind project off New London, calling the federal action an “egregious attack on clean energy” that landed “like a lump of dirty coal” during the holiday season.

The joint statement from Connecticut, New York, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island represented a rare multistate rebuke of a specific federal energy decision. Attorney General William Tong announced Connecticut would return to court to challenge the suspension.

“This project is more than 90 percent complete,” Lamont said. “Workers showed up today expecting to finish a job that will power 350,000 homes with clean energy. Instead, they learned the federal government pulled the rug out for purely political reasons.”

The Revolution Wind installation, located in federal waters south of Rhode Island, was on track for completion in early 2026 after years of permitting, construction, and investment. The project would connect to the grid through facilities in New London, bringing jobs and tax revenue to southeastern Connecticut.

The Trump administration’s Interior Department cited concerns about environmental reviews and permitting processes in ordering work stopped, though critics noted the project had cleared all required approvals before construction began.

“There is no legitimate basis for this suspension,” Attorney General Tong said. “This is a political attack on Connecticut’s energy future, and we will fight it in court.”

The offshore wind industry has become a flashpoint in national energy debates. Supporters view it as essential for meeting climate goals and creating domestic manufacturing jobs. Opponents have raised concerns about impacts on fisheries, viewshed disruptions, and reliability.

New England’s offshore wind ambitions have already faced significant challenges, with several projects canceled or delayed due to rising costs and supply chain problems. Revolution Wind was among the few to reach advanced construction, making its suspension particularly jarring for the regional industry.

Organized labor groups joined the governors’ criticism. Construction trade unions have embraced offshore wind as a source of high-paying jobs, and workers already deployed on the project face sudden uncertainty.

“These are union workers who were counting on this project to support their families,” said Connecticut AFL-CIO President Ed Hawthorne. “Suspending work right before Christmas shows a callous disregard for working people.”

The Interior Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the suspension or the planned legal challenge.