The Biden administration is facing renewed legal challenges as the Interior Department seeks to reconsider its approval of a major offshore wind project off the coast of Massachusetts. In a court filing submitted Tuesday, the Justice Department requested that a federal judge send the construction and operations permit for the New England Wind project back to the Interior Department for further review, citing significant adverse impacts associated with the project.
The New England Wind initiative, developed by Avangrid, was initially approved in 2024 during the Biden administration. The project envisions installing 129 turbines capable of generating up to 2,600 megawatts of clean energy, enough to power more than 900,000 homes annually. Construction has not yet begun, and Avangrid declined to comment on the latest developments.
This action represents the fourth instance in recent months where the Trump administration has sought to undermine offshore wind projects by using executive orders, agency actions, and litigation. The administration has previously targeted several key East Coast wind energy initiatives, including the Revolution Wind project serving Rhode Island and Connecticut, and the Maryland Offshore Wind Project. Both have been flagged for reconsideration despite Revolution Wind having completed construction.
In August, a judge approved the administration’s request to revisit the permit for the stalled Atlantic Shores project in New Jersey. Additionally, a federal judge last year authorized the reconsideration of a permit for the Massachusetts SouthCoast Wind project shortly before President Trump’s inauguration.
Critics argue that these efforts are impeding clean energy development at a critical time. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, Democrat of Rhode Island, expressed concern that the administration’s actions could undermine bipartisan legislative attempts to streamline permitting processes for energy and infrastructure. “This is how you blow up a permitting deal,” he said in a statement.
Environmental advocates also voiced disapproval. Pasha Feinberg, an offshore wind strategist at the Natural Resources Defense Council, highlighted the timing of the administration’s move as particularly harmful amid rising utility costs for American consumers.
Meanwhile, the National Ocean Industries Association emphasized the uncertainty caused by reopening federal approvals on projects that are already under construction or in operation, warning that such delays could hinder the growth of the offshore wind sector.
The New England Wind project’s permit was initially challenged in court by a group of Nantucket residents concerned about potential negative impacts on the environment and local communities. The Interior Department’s move to reconsider the permit continues a contentious legal and policy debate over the future of offshore wind development in the United States.