Trump told a major offshore wind project to stop construction just before it reached the finish line

The Revolution Wind farm was already 80 percent complete before the US Bureau of Ocean Energy Management sent it a letter Friday to “halt all ongoing activities” to address purported national security concerns and “interference” with other potential uses for the area.  

The move comes as data centers, domestic manufacturing, and electric vehicles are raising electricity demand, putting more pressure on power grids across the US. Nevertheless, President Trump has waged his war against wind farms, attempting to eliminate competition to the fossil fuel industry that backed Trump’s campaign. 

The Trump administration similarly paused construction of the Empire Wind farm off the coast of New York State earlier this year, which reportedly cost its developers $50 million a week before it was allowed to start work again. 

Revolution Wind is supposed to provide enough electricity for more than 350,000 homes in Rhode Island and Connecticut after coming online next year. It has already received federal and state permits to operate. Ørsted, one of the project’s developers, says it’s evaluating its legal options.