A wind energy developer is suing the Trump administration over its efforts to block a major project that would provide power to Rhode Island and Connecticut.

Revolution Wind, which is a joint venture between Ørsted and a consortium led by Skyborn Renewables, sued over a stop work order that the Trump administration issued.

The developer says that its project, which would have the capacity to power more than 350,000 homes, was about 80 percent complete.

It argues that the stop work order “was issued without statutory authority, lacks any evidentiary basis, and is unlawful.” 

They also said in court that it ignores “billions of dollars of investments” made based on the Biden administration’s approval of the project. It says that it has already spent or committed $5 billion and that canceling the project would cost another $1 billion.

The Interior Department, which has the authority over offshore energy projects, declined to comment.

The Trump administration has taken a hostile approach to offshore wind and has indicated that it is also looking to halt projects near Maryland and Massachusetts.

—Zach Schonfeld contributed.