In a significant setback for the Trump administration’s efforts to curb offshore wind development, U.S. District Judge Royce C. Lamberth ruled on February 2, 2026, to allow construction to resume on Ørsted’s Sunrise Wind project off New York’s Long Island. The decision lifts a federal halt imposed under President Donald Trump, marking the fifth court victory for the wind industry against similar stop-work orders. This ruling comes amid ongoing legal battles over national security concerns cited by the administration, and it underscores the tensions between renewable energy ambitions and federal policy priorities in a state already grappling with some of the nation’s highest electricity costs.
The Ruling and Project Details
The Sunrise Wind project, a 924-megawatt offshore wind farm developed by Danish energy giant Ørsted in partnership with Eversource, was approximately 45% complete when the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) issued a stop-work order in late 2025. The administration justified the pause based on classified national security risks, though specifics remain undisclosed. Ørsted has invested over $7 billion in the project, which is designed to power hundreds of thousands of New York homes and contribute to the state’s goal of 70% renewable energy by 2030.
Judge Lamberth, ruling from the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, granted a preliminary injunction, stating that the project would suffer “irreparable harm” if construction remained idle. He reviewed classified materials and concluded that BOEM’s actions were insufficiently justified, describing the halt as potentially “arbitrary and capricious.” The decision allows work to continue while the underlying lawsuit proceeds, preventing daily losses estimated at $2.5 million for Ørsted. This echoes Lamberth’s prior rulings, including injunctions for Ørsted’s Revolution Wind project off Rhode Island, where he similarly criticized the administration’s lack of evidence and delays in acting on supposed threats.
The halt stemmed from broader Trump-era policies aimed at reevaluating offshore wind leases, with officials like Interior Secretary Doug Burgum highlighting concerns over costs, wildlife impacts, and security. However, Lamberth noted public statements from administration figures that appeared to reflect a general opposition to wind power rather than specific risks.
Judge Royce C. Lamberth: Background and Track Record
Appointed by President Ronald Reagan in 1987, Judge Lamberth is a veteran of the federal bench with a reputation for independence and scrutiny of executive actions. Over his career, he has handled high-profile cases, including those involving Guantanamo Bay detainees, Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) warrants, and Freedom of Information Act disputes. Notably, during the Clinton administration, Lamberth oversaw investigations into White House email practices and ruled against the executive branch in several instances, earning praise from conservatives for holding power accountable.
Regarding President Trump, Lamberth has not shown overt personal animosity but has consistently ruled against the administration in offshore wind disputes. In 2025, he issued multiple injunctions against stop-work orders for projects like Revolution Wind, chiding the government for inadequate explanations and suggesting political motivations over genuine security concerns. While some critics in D.C. judicial circles have broadly accused the district court of anti-Trump bias in unrelated cases (such as those involving January 6 prosecutions or election-related matters), Lamberth’s Reagan-era roots and history of cross-partisan rulings— including against Democratic administrations—undercut claims of partisan hostility. No evidence points to personal vendettas; instead, his decisions emphasize procedural rigor and evidence-based justifications.
Will the Ruling Be Appealed?
The Trump administration has a 60-day window to appeal Lamberth’s preliminary injunction, and analysts expect it will do so, given the pattern in similar cases. In prior Revolution Wind rulings, the government opted not to appeal initial injunctions, allowing construction to proceed amid ongoing merits reviews. However, with Sunrise Wind’s case tied to broader challenges involving multiple projects (including Empire Wind and Vineyard Wind), an appeal seems likely to consolidate defenses of the national security rationale.
Energy policy experts at firms like ClearView Energy Partners suggest that favorable outcomes for developers in ongoing suits could prompt appeals to higher courts, potentially reaching the D.C. Circuit or Supreme Court. If appealed, the process could drag into late 2026, adding uncertainty and costs. Ørsted and New York state officials, who have joined related lawsuits, argue the halts are pretextual and violate federal leasing laws, setting the stage for a protracted fight.
Cost Implications for New York Ratepayers
New Yorkers already pay some of the highest electricity prices in the U.S., with residential rates averaging 23-27 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh) as of early 2026—about 30-50% above the national average of 16-18 cents/kWh, according to data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration and utility trackers.
Monthly bills hover around $150-260 for typical households, driven by factors like transmission infrastructure, taxes, and a heavy reliance on imported natural gas.
The Sunrise Wind project, alongside Equinor’s Empire Wind 1, was renegotiated in 2024 amid inflation and supply chain issues, doubling consumer costs from initial estimates.
Under the revised 25-year contracts, the projects are projected to add about 2% to residential bills—or roughly $2 per month—compared to the original 0.49-0.9% (73 cents) increase.
Strike prices now average $150 per megawatt-hour (MWh), far above market rates for conventional power (around $36/MWh), potentially inflating bills by 2.5-6.7% ($6-7 monthly) if further delays accrue.
The recent halt alone cost Ørsted $2.5 million daily, expenses likely to be passed on through higher rates or state subsidies. Critics, including the Empire Center for Public Policy, warn that such projects exacerbate arrears, with over 1 million New York utility customers already owing nearly $2 billion.
Proponents counter that long-term benefits—like reduced fossil fuel dependence and job creation (over 1,000 positions from similar projects)—could stabilize prices, but delays risk billions in additional taxpayer burdens.
As New York pushes for 9 gigawatts of offshore wind by 2035, ratepayers face a delicate balance: advancing clean energy goals while managing affordability in a high-cost environment. This ruling keeps Sunrise Wind on track for late-2026 operations, but the appeal prospects and rising expenses highlight the volatile path ahead.
Stuart Turley is the host of the Energy News Beat podcast. Follow on X @STUARTTURLEY16
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