Construction paused at Revolution Wind after a BOEM stop-work order, offshore of Aquinnah.
12 miles southwest of Aquinnah, Massachusetts (federal waters), August 25, 2025
A federal agency has ordered an immediate stop to construction on the Revolution Wind offshore project about 12 miles southwest of Aquinnah after the project reached roughly 80 percent completion. The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management issued a stop-work letter as part of a department review tied to an executive order, citing national security and exclusive economic zone concerns. The 65-turbine, 704-megawatt project, owned by Ørsted and Eversource and using Siemens Gamesa turbines, is now paused while agencies and the developer assess legal, financial and operational next steps amid industry and local reactions.
Federal officials have ordered an immediate halt to construction on the nearly finished Revolution Wind offshore wind farm located about 12 miles southwest of Aquinnah. The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) issued a letter directing work to stop on the planned 65-turbine project that was reported to be roughly 80 percent complete.
The project is a 704-megawatt development owned by Ørsted (50 percent stake) and Eversource and uses turbines manufactured by Siemens Gamesa. Each turbine is reported to be about 873 feet tall. BOEM, the federal agency that oversees offshore wind, said the stoppage is needed to allow time to review concerns that arose during a departmental review tied to a presidential executive order. Few details about the specific concerns were provided in the letter.
BOEM’s acting director noted the pause is intended to address issues related to protection of national security interests and to avoid interference with reasonable uses of the exclusive economic zone and territorial seas. BOEM provided limited information in its correspondence and did not respond to a request for comment when contacted.
Ørsted confirmed it is complying with the stop-work order and is evaluating next steps, including the potential financial effects and possible legal actions. The company also announced that earlier the same week it had completed installation of the project’s first turbine, a milestone in the planned 65-turbine array.
The order follows a broader federal review directed by an executive order signed on the president’s first day in office, which halted future permitting and instructed a review of existing leases and projects. The Department of Commerce has also launched a separate probe into how importing wind turbine parts might affect national security, including whether domestic manufacturing could meet demand and whether parts could be weaponized.
The stop-work order drew swift criticism from wind industry representatives and some lawmakers who said it creates uncertainty for investors and jobs. A U.S. senator from a state set to receive Revolution Wind power described the decision as arbitrary, noted rising household electric bills, and said the project employed hundreds of skilled tradespeople. The governor of a neighboring state called the move a setback for energy security and economic development and said state officials will work to reverse the decision.
National clean-energy groups voiced concern that the move undermines confidence in long-term energy investments. At the same time, local opponents and tribal leaders welcomed the pause, saying federal agencies need to take a harder look at impacts to views, culture, marine life and historic sites. Environmental legal groups that have pursued court challenges against offshore projects praised the order as recognition of permitting problems.
The stop-work order comes as several lawsuits and regulatory battles play out in federal court. A recent suit joined by a tribal council, island residents, fishermen and a whale-protection group seeks to void approvals for separate offshore projects to the south, arguing agencies did not fully consider effects on endangered species, marine mammals and historic resources. That case names multiple federal agencies as defendants and raises concerns about the adequacy of mitigation measures meant to protect whales, including requirements for observers, acoustic monitors and shutdowns during sightings of the endangered North Atlantic right whale, a population estimated at roughly 370 animals.
The offshore wind industry in the U.S. remains in its early stages. Many turbine parts are produced abroad by companies with longer experience in the sector. Some projects have already faced technical setbacks: debris from a turbine blade that fell into the ocean from another project continues to wash ashore while officials investigate the cause. Internationally, similar blade failures have occurred elsewhere, prompting further scrutiny of equipment and procedures.
Revolution Wind was approved by BOEM last year and was expected to begin delivering power to Rhode Island and Connecticut by 2026. The company has paused work to comply with the federal order while it weighs legal and financial responses. Federal agencies are conducting reviews tied to the executive order and separate national security inquiries, and it remains unclear how long the stop-work order will remain in place.
Yes. BOEM issued a stop-work order directing Revolution Wind to halt construction while federal officials review concerns.
The project is located about 12 miles southwest of the western tip of Aquinnah.
The plan calls for 65 turbines. Each turbine is reported to be about 873 feet tall, with Siemens Gamesa as the turbine manufacturer.
The project is owned by Ørsted and Eversource; Ørsted holds a 50 percent stake. Ørsted said it is complying with the order and is evaluating next steps, including potential legal action and financial impacts.
BOEM said the pause allows time to address concerns raised during a departmental review tied to a presidential executive order and to protect national security interests and reasonable uses of federal waters. Few detailed reasons were provided publicly.
The project was planned to supply power to Rhode Island and Connecticut, with commercial operation expected in 2026, but that timeline is now uncertain while the stop-work order remains in effect.
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Project name | Revolution Wind |
| Location | ~12 miles southwest of Aquinnah |
| Number of turbines | 65 |
| Turbine height | ~873 feet |
| Manufacturer | Siemens Gamesa |
| Ownership | Ørsted (50%) and Eversource |
| Reported completion at halt | Approximately 80 percent |
| Planned energy delivery | Rhode Island and Connecticut; commercial operation expected in 2026 (timeline now uncertain) |
| Federal agency issuing order | Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) |
| Reason cited | Departmental review related to national security and reasonable use of federal waters (few public details) |
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