Rhode Island politicians condemn Trump pausing offshore wind project

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — The Trump administration’s order to halt construction on Revolution Wind, the offshore wind farm 15 miles off Rhode Island’s coast, has sparked swift backlash from state leaders. State officials warned the decision jeopardizes jobs, undermines energy security, and threatens Rhode Island’s climate commitments.

Governor Dan McKee called the order a “setback” for families and businesses, saying it undermines the state’s clean energy transition.

The Trump administration’s stop-work order on Revolution Wind undermines efforts to expand our energy supply, lower costs for families and businesses, and strengthen regional reliability. This action puts hundreds of union jobs at risk by halting a project that is 80% complete—just steps away from powering more than 350,000 homes in Rhode Island and Connecticut. At a time when we should be moving forward with solutions for energy, jobs, and affordability, the Trump administration is choosing delay and disruption. We are working with our partners in Connecticut to pursue every avenue to reverse this decision. Revolution Wind is key to Rhode Island’s economic development, energy security, and long-term affordability for our residents.“

Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse, along with Representatives Seth Magaziner and Gabe Amo, issued a joint statement calling the order “unwarranted and unacceptable.”

We’re committed to ensuring Rhode Islanders have affordable electricity, but President Trump continues to recklessly increase energy prices.  Halting this nearly completed project is unwarranted and unacceptable.  We will do everything we can to protect Rhode Island’s interests and help lower people’s energy bills.“

Attorney General Peter Neronha warned that blocking Revolution Wind jeopardizes the state’s legally mandated climate targets.

Nearly half of the State’s clean energy portfolio, 400MW to be precise, is slated to come from Revolution Wind upon the project’s completion next year. Without Revolution Wind, our Act on Climate is dead in the water. With the significant investments made in this project already and its obvious benefit to our economy and climate, the Trump Administration’s attempt to halt it can only be characterized as bizarre. Along with our neighboring states, we are evaluating our avenues to reverse it.“

He added that Rhode Island, in coordination with neighboring states, is exploring legal and regulatory avenues to challenge the order.Attorney General Peter Neronha called the move “bizarre,” while Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse, and  Congressmen Seth Magaziner and Gabe Amo released a joint statement calling the move “unwarranted and unacceptable.”