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Council split on urging BOEM to lift Revolution Wind stop-work order; resolution fails on tie and abstention
Summary
A proposed Town Council resolution urging federal regulators to rescind a stop‑work order on the Revolution Wind offshore project failed on a 3–3 vote with one abstention after extended public comment and debate.
The Portsmouth Town Council considered a proposed statement urging the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) to rescind a stop‑work order on the Revolution Wind offshore project, but after extensive public comment and council discussion the motion failed to pass.
Proponents of the resolution argued the project is largely complete (outside work such as cables and turbines already installed or partially installed), supports family‑wage jobs, benefits local marine businesses and helps regional energy reliability. Several speakers said the project was about 75–80% complete, with cables landed at North Kingstown and many turbines in place, and argued that stopping work would strand construction, harm local contractors and the wider maritime supply chain.
Opponents and numerous residents urged caution and supported the federal pause. Testimony from multiple speakers pointed to ongoing federal reviews by BOEM, the Department of Justice and the Department of Defense; concerns included whether prior permitting complied fully with the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, the Endangered Species Act and National Environmental Policy Act, and whether there are national‑security or radar/interference concerns affecting search-and-rescue operations. Commenters also raised potential impacts on fisheries and marine mammals cited in court filings.
After the public comment period the council debated an amendment to the resolution to permit completion of turbines already partially installed while pausing additional construction; the sponsor accepted a narrower amendment focusing on finishing partially completed elements of the Revolution Wind project. When the council voted on the amended statement, the result was three votes in favor, three opposed and one abstention, so the motion failed (tie with abstention). The council did not adopt a position to ask BOEM to rescind the stop‑work order.
Councilors said they expected the matter to continue to be discussed at regional and state levels and noted that the federal agencies — not the town council — hold responsibility for permit decisions and reviews.
