(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont, Attorney General William Tong, and Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) Acting Commissioner Emma Cimino released the following statements in response to the Trump administration’s latest attempt to block Connecticut from developing new energy sources through the creation of the Revolution Wind project:
Governor Lamont said, “Revolution Wind is a fully permitted, fully constructed offshore wind farm, built by union labor, that is already providing clean, affordable, reliable energy to Connecticut and the region. The Trump administration says it wants federal permitting reform legislation to accelerate energy projects and lower costs for ratepayers, but this action by the Department of Justice is completely contrary to that goal. Any meaningful agreement must be built on a fundamental principle: ratepayers, developers, and investors need certainty that projects can move forward when they comply with federal and state laws and regulations, and that permits already granted will be honored. That certainty is essential to building the affordable, reliable energy infrastructure our nation needs, including projects already in the pipeline. We are reviewing this action and assessing our options in coordination with our partners at Ørsted and the Attorney General’s Office, and we will take appropriate steps as needed to protect the interests of Connecticut residents.”
Attorney General Tong said, “This makes zero sense. We sued to get Revolution Wind back online, and we will not hesitate to return to court again to protect Connecticut jobs and our access to clean, renewable, affordable power.”
Acting Commissioner Cimino said, “Revolution Wind is already supplying much-needed affordable, reliable, and clean power to our grid. This project will save Connecticut and New England ratepayers half a billion dollars a year in electricity market costs and will further save Connecticut ratepayers $150 to $200 million in public benefits charges over the life of the 20-year contract. Revolution Wind also adds much-needed reliability to our grid, which is particularly important as we head into the cold winter months when heating usage is high and wind energy typically performs strongly. Any actions to impede or delay this progress are not in the best interest of Connecticut residents.”
This week, the Trump administration asked a federal court for permission to rescind its past approval of Revolution Wind. Revolution Wind is a 704-megawatt offshore wind project approximately 15 nautical miles southeast of Point Judith, Rhode Island. The 65-turbine project began construction in 2023, and the final turbine was completed in September. The project is expected to reach full commercial operation later this year, and it will deliver enough electricity to the New England grid to power 350,000 homes, equivalent to about 2.5% of the region’s electricity supply. Connecticut’s share will meet about 5% of the state’s overall electricity demand. A DEEP analysis estimates that by 2028, Revolution Wind will save Connecticut and New England ratepayers half a billion dollars a year in electricity market costs, while also saving Connecticut ratepayers $150 to $200 million in public benefits charges over the life of the 20-year contract.