The Trump administration is moving to reopen federal approval for a major offshore wind project off Massachusetts, escalating its effort to reconsider renewable energy developments approved under former President Joe Biden.
The Justice Department asked a federal judge to return the New England Wind project’s construction and operations permit to the Interior Department for reconsideration. The permit was approved in 2024, and the administration argues it should be revisited because of what it describes as significant adverse impacts. The Associated Press reported that the latest move makes New England Wind the fourth offshore wind project targeted by the administration in recent months.
Developed by Avangrid, New England Wind could feature up to 129 turbines generating as much as 2,600 megawatts of electricity, enough to power more than 900,000 homes annually. Construction has not begun, leaving the project’s future uncertain as the federal review proceeds.
The administration has also sought to revisit approvals for Revolution Wind, which serves Rhode Island and Connecticut, and the Maryland Offshore Wind Project. A separate New Jersey project, Atlantic Shores, has also faced federal permitting challenges.
The effort comes as offshore wind developers warn that repeated reviews of previously approved projects create uncertainty for the energy industry. The National Ocean Industries Association has raised concerns about reopening approvals for offshore energy projects, including developments already under construction or operating.
The dispute presents Massachusetts with competing questions about energy reliability, electricity costs, environmental impacts and federal oversight. Supporters see offshore wind as a potential source of large-scale electricity generation, while critics have raised concerns about the costs and consequences of development.
The administration’s latest move does not itself cancel the project’s permit. Instead, the immediate question is whether the court will allow federal officials to reconsider the approval, potentially extending the legal and regulatory uncertainty surrounding one of New England’s major proposed offshore wind developments.
