ISO New England, the operator of the electric grid for the northeastern United States, has expressed concern that a federal order halting construction of the 704-megawatt Revolution Wind offshore project could undermine the region’s energy reliability.
The U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) issued a stop-work order on Friday, halting progress on the project, which is being developed by Orsted and Skyborn Renewables.
The grid operator noted that the project, which was slated to come online in 2026, plays a key role in regional energy planning.
“The ISO is expecting this project to come online and it is included in our analyses of near-term and future grid reliability,” ISO New England said in a statement. “Delaying the project will increase risks to reliability.”
Orsted reported earlier in August that the project was approximately 80% complete.
In its statement, ISO New England also pointed to broader implications of the delay. “Beyond near-term impacts to reliability in the summer and winter peak periods, delays in the availability of new resources will adversely affect New England’s economy and industrial growth, including potential future data centres,” the grid operator said.
The Revolution Wind project is designed to deliver power to Rhode Island and Connecticut, and forms part of wider efforts to expand offshore wind capacity in the region.
The BOEM has not publicly detailed the reasons behind its stop-work order. The Trump administration has previously voiced concerns about the pace and scale of offshore wind development, citing regulatory and environmental review issues.
