Overview

• U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth granted a preliminary injunction, calling the Interior Department’s halt “the height of arbitrary and capricious” and finding the developer faced irreparable harm.
• The decision allows the 704-megawatt project about 15 miles off Rhode Island—roughly 80% complete with 45 of 65 turbines installed—to resume work to serve about 350,000 homes in Rhode Island and Connecticut.
• Lamberth cited losses of roughly $2–$2.3 million per day and warned that missing December deadlines could sideline a key installation vessel until 2028, risking the project’s viability.
• Interior and BOEM said their investigation of potential national-security and other-use conflicts will continue, as federal lawyers argue the developer fell short on required coordination with the Navy and NOAA.
• Ørsted and partner Skyborn brought the suit that led to the injunction, Rhode Island and Connecticut officials praised the ruling, and the administration retains options to pursue further legal or administrative steps.