Case: State of Rhode Island v. United States Department of the Interior

1:25-cv-00439 | U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island

Filed Date: Sept. 4, 2025

Case Ongoing

Clearinghouse coding in progress

Case Summary

[This summary is temporary while we research the case.]

After years of rigorous environmental review, intergovernmental coordination, and substantial public and private investment, the Revolution Wind project—a cornerstone of Connecticut and Rhode Island’s clean energy future—was abruptly halted by federal officials without statutory authority, regulatory justification, or factual basis. On August 22, 2025, the Acting Director of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management issued a Stop Work Order requiring Revolution Wind’s developer, Ørsted, to immediately stop construction. Plaintiffs Connecticut and Rhode Island filed suit, claiming, among other things, that the Stop Work Order is arbitrary and capricious under the APA.

Summary Authors

Claire Pollard (9/6/2025)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71271669/parties/state-of-rhode-island-v-united-states-department-of-the-interior/


Judge(s)

McElroy, Mary Susan (Rhode Island)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Carnevale, Alexander Michael (Rhode Island)

Giarrano, Leonard Giarrano (Rhode Island)

Rice, Sarah (Rhode Island)

Vaz, Nicholas M. (Rhode Island)

show all people

Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document
1

1:25-cv-00439

Complaint

Sept. 4, 2025

Sept. 4, 2025

Complaint

Resources

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71271669/state-of-rhode-island-v-united-states-department-of-the-interior/

Last updated Sept. 6, 2025, 4:46 p.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
1

COMPLAINT ( filing fee paid $ 405.00, receipt number ARIDC-2180005 ), filed by State of Rhode Island. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Exhibit A, # 2 Civil Cover Sheet, # 3 Summons Request for DOI, # 4 Summons Request for Douglas Burgum, # 5 Summons Request for BOEM, # 6 Summons Request for Matthew Giacona, # 7 Summons Request for BSEE, # 8 Summons Request for Kenneth Stevens)(Giarrano, Leonard) (Entered: 09/04/2025)

1 Exhibit Exhibit A

View on RECAP

2 Civil Cover Sheet

View on RECAP

3 Summons Request for DOI

View on RECAP

4 Summons Request for Douglas Burgum

View on RECAP

5 Summons Request for BOEM

View on RECAP

6 Summons Request for Matthew Giacona

View on RECAP

7 Summons Request for BSEE

View on RECAP

8 Summons Request for Kenneth Stevens

View on RECAP

Sept. 4, 2025

Sept. 4, 2025

Clearinghouse
2

CASE OPENING NOTICE ISSUED (Simoncelli, Michael) (Entered: 09/04/2025)

Sept. 4, 2025

Sept. 4, 2025

RECAP
3

Summons Issued as to Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, Douglas Burgum, Matthew Giacona, Kenneth Stevens, United States Department of the Interior. (Attachments: # 1 Summons, # 2 Summons, # 3 Summons, # 4 Summons, # 5 Summons)(Simoncelli, Michael) (Entered: 09/04/2025)

1 Summons

View on RECAP

2 Summons

View on RECAP

3 Summons

View on RECAP

4 Summons

View on RECAP

5 Summons

View on RECAP

Sept. 4, 2025

Sept. 4, 2025

RECAP

Case Assigned/Reassigned

Sept. 4, 2025

Sept. 4, 2025

PACER

Case assigned to District Judge Mary S. McElroy and Magistrate Judge Patricia A. Sullivan. (Simoncelli, Michael)

Sept. 4, 2025

Sept. 4, 2025

PACER
4

AFFIDAVIT of Service, filed by State of Rhode Island All Defendants. (Attachments: # 1 Proof of Service for Douglas Burgum, # 2 Proof of Service for BOEM, # 3 Proof of Service for Matthew Giacona, # 4 Proof of Service for BSEE, # 5 Proof of Service for Kenneth Stevens)(Giarrano, Leonard) (Entered: 09/05/2025)

1 Proof of Service for Douglas Burgum

View on RECAP

2 Proof of Service for BOEM

View on RECAP

3 Proof of Service for Matthew Giacona

View on RECAP

4 Proof of Service for BSEE

View on RECAP

5 Proof of Service for Kenneth Stevens

View on RECAP

Sept. 5, 2025

Sept. 5, 2025

RECAP

Case Details

State / Territory: Rhode Island

Case Type(s):

Environmental Justice

Special Collection(s):

Trump Administration 2.0: Challenges to the Government

Key Dates

Filing Date: Sept. 4, 2025

Case Ongoing: Yes