On September 4, 2025, Rhode Island and Connecticut filed a lawsuit in the federal district court for the District of Rhode Island challenging the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s (BOEM’s) August 22, 2025 issuance of a Stop Work Order requiring the developer of the Revolution Wind offshore wind project to cease construction. The two states asserted that BOEM’s action violated both the Administrative Procedure Act and the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, which the states said “demand reasoned decision-making, fidelity to statutory limits, and respect for the settled expectations of sovereign States and regulated parties.” The states alleged that the Stop Work Order harmed them by jeopardizing a project that is “critical to the States’ economic vitality, energy mix, and climate goals.” The complaint identified state-level statutory requirements to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and diversify the energy supply and alleged that the Stop Work Order would imperil compliance with such mandates.

Rhode Island and Connecticut's challenge to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management's Stop Work Order halting construction of the Revolution Wind offshore wind project.

Rhode Island v. U.S. Department of the Interior

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Rhode Island and Connecticut Challenged Federal Stop Work Order for Revolution Wind, Citing Impacts on Ability to Achieve State Mandates to Mitigate Greenhouse Gas Emissions

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Rhode Island and Connecticut Challenged Federal Stop Work Order for Revolution Wind, Citing Impacts on Ability to Achieve State Mandates to Mitigate Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Target

Policy instrument

Risk

Impacted group

Just transition

Renewable energy

Fossil fuel

Greenhouse gas

Economic sector

Adaptation/resilience

Finance