Orsted starts commercial operations on Revolution Wind as Democrats take Congress

Orsted announced on Thursday that Revolution Wind, an offshore wind farm located in federal waters off the coast of Rhode Island, has entered commercial operation. The development proceeds despite President Donald Trump’s expressed opposition to offshore wind and his administration’s recent efforts to slow permitting for renewable energy projects. The start of operations provides a concrete example of the clean energy infrastructure that incoming congressional Democrats intend to expand.

Democratic leaders plan to use their new majorities in the House and Senate, secured in last week’s midterm elections, to address rising energy costs. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island, who serves as the top Democrat on the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, stated that the administration’s fossil fuel policies have increased expenses for taxpayers. He said Democrats will work to lower consumer energy costs and demand accountability regarding the administration’s handling of fossil fuel donations.

Jason Grumet, CEO of the American Clean Power Association, noted that industry participants feel bolstered by the election results. However, enacting major legislative changes will require cooperation from Republicans because Democrats lack the necessary votes to override presidential vetoes. Lisa Sachs, director of the Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment, observed that the election gave Democrats more leverage over spending but emphasized that the party must now clearly define which policies deliver affordability.

President Trump has predicted that he will veto legislation he considers extreme from the new Congress. Speaking to Fox News, he suggested that after a few months of vetoes, he and the Democrats would find ways to cooperate. The White House issued a statement on Wednesday saying Trump is committed to unleashing reliable and affordable energy sources and is willing to work with anyone to achieve that goal. Meanwhile, the administration has continued to cancel clean energy grants and reshape the Environmental Protection Agency to promote fossil fuels.

The Senate is expected to hold a procedural vote on Monday regarding an energy permitting reform proposal announced in September. Mike Sommers, CEO of the American Petroleum Institute, stated that the shift in political power presents an opportunity for bipartisan cooperation to reduce costs. In contrast, Ife Kilimanjaro, executive director of the U.S. Climate Action Network, argued that Democrats should reject the proposal in favor of legislation that expands clean energy infrastructure.

David Victor, a professor of innovation and public policy at the University of California, San Diego, anticipates a stalemate at the federal level due to the divided government. He expects Democratic investigations to focus on corruption and other topics, noting that many bills will serve as a blueprint for future terms rather than immediate law. Despite the federal gridlock, Democrats won gubernatorial races in Texas and Georgia, which Jay Inslee, a former governor from Washington, believes will drive state-level progress on clean energy.