Judge Allows Massachusetts Offshore Wind Project to Continue

Vineyard Wind project can restart after being halted by Trump administration over national security concerns

Jan. 27, 2026 at 7:55pm

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A federal judge in Boston has ruled that the nearly completed Vineyard Wind offshore wind project in Massachusetts can continue, halting the Trump administration's previous order to stop work on the project. The judge cited the potential economic losses from delays and the developers' likelihood of success on their claims against the administration's order.

Why it matters

The Vineyard Wind project is one of several major offshore wind projects on the East Coast that the Trump administration had paused, citing national security concerns. This ruling allows the project, which is 95% complete and partially operational, to restart and continue delivering clean energy to the New England region.

The details

Judge Brian Murphy of the U.S. District Court in Boston ruled that Vineyard Wind can continue construction, rejecting the Trump administration's order to halt the project. The judge cited the potential economic losses from the delays and the developers' likelihood of success in their legal challenge against the administration's order. Prior to this, federal judges had allowed three other paused offshore wind projects to restart construction, concluding the government did not show an imminent national security risk.

  • On January 27, 2026, Judge Brian Murphy ruled that the Vineyard Wind project can continue.
  • In late 2025, the Trump administration ordered a halt to construction on Vineyard Wind and four other major offshore wind projects on the East Coast, citing national security concerns.

The players

Vineyard Wind

A joint venture between Avangrid and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, Vineyard Wind is a nearly completed offshore wind project located 15 miles south of Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket, Massachusetts.

Judge Brian Murphy

A federal judge in the U.S. District Court in Boston who ruled that the Vineyard Wind project can continue, halting the Trump administration's order to stop work on the project.

Donald Trump

The former U.S. president who targeted offshore wind projects, calling them "losers" that lose money, destroy the landscape, and kill birds.

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What they’re saying

“Vineyard Wind will focus on working in coordination with its contractors, the federal government, and other relevant stakeholders and authorities to safely restart activities, as it continues to deliver a critical source of new power to the New England region.”

— Craig Gilvarg, Spokesperson for Vineyard Wind

“The completion of this project is essential to ensuring the state can lower costs, meet rising energy demand, advance its climate goals and sustain thousands of good-paying jobs.”

— Andrea Joy Campbell, Massachusetts Attorney General

What’s next

The Vineyard Wind project is expected to be fully completed and operational by the end of March 2026, generating 800 megawatts of clean electricity for the New England grid.

The takeaway

This ruling is a victory for the offshore wind industry, which has faced repeated challenges from the Trump administration. It allows the Vineyard Wind project, one of the most advanced in the nation, to continue delivering on its promise of clean, renewable energy for Massachusetts and the region.