OMNI Features｜Ørsted Sues Trump Administration for Halting $1.5bn Offshore Wind Project

Ørsted, Denmark's largest renewable energy company, has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration after Washington halted work on its nearly completed $1.5bn Revolution Wind project. The company argues the stop-work order is "arbitrary and capricious," noting billions have already been invested in securing approvals. The project was expected to power 350,000 homes across the US Northeast.

The suspension has severely hit Ørsted's finances, pushing its shares to record lows and prompting an emergency shareholder meeting in Copenhagen to approve a DKr60bn ($9.4bn) rights issue. The rights issue has been backed by major shareholders, including the Danish state, Equinor, and Norway's sovereign wealth fund.

Trump's administration has taken a hostile stance toward offshore wind, issuing multiple orders blocking projects and calling wind energy the "scam of the century." Legal filings show efforts to revoke permits for additional Massachusetts projects backed by France's Engie, Spain's Iberdrola, and others. Ørsted fears its second U.S. project, Sunrise Wind, could also be targeted.

U.S. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum defended the halt on national security grounds, suggesting wind farms could conceal undersea drone attacks. Despite Danish diplomatic efforts, including support from NATO's former chief Jens Stoltenberg, tensions remain high as European companies weigh the future of their US wind investments.