WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration said Monday it is pausing leases for five large-scale offshore wind projects under construction in the East Coast due to unspecified national security risks identified by the Pentagon.
The pause is effective immediately and will give the Interior Department, which oversees offshore wind, time to work with the Defense Department and other agencies to assess the possible ways to mitigate any security risks posed by the projects, the administration said.
“Today’s action addresses emerging national security risks, including the rapid evolution of the relevant adversary technologies, and the vulnerabilities created by large-scale offshore wind projects with proximity near our east coast population centers,” Interior Secretary Doug Burgum stated.
The administration specified that the pause affects projects including Vineyard Wind in Massachusetts, Revolution Wind in Rhode Island and Connecticut, Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind, and two ventures in New York: Sunrise Wind and Empire Wind.
The Interior Department noted that previous unclassified reports have identified issues with the large turbine blades and reflective towers, which create radar interference known as clutter. This clutter can obscure legitimate targets and create false readings in radar systems near wind project locations.
This move comes shortly after a federal judge overturned President Trump’s executive order that blocked wind energy developments, which the judge deemed arbitrary and contradictory to U.S. law. The legality of the halt was challenged by a coalition of 17 state attorneys general, led by New York Attorney General Letitia James, who argued against the executive order restricting wind farm leasing.
Trump has faced criticism for his stance on renewable energy, often favoring fossil fuels for energy production over advancements in wind and solar initiatives.
The pause is effective immediately and will give the Interior Department, which oversees offshore wind, time to work with the Defense Department and other agencies to assess the possible ways to mitigate any security risks posed by the projects, the administration said.
“Today’s action addresses emerging national security risks, including the rapid evolution of the relevant adversary technologies, and the vulnerabilities created by large-scale offshore wind projects with proximity near our east coast population centers,” Interior Secretary Doug Burgum stated.
The administration specified that the pause affects projects including Vineyard Wind in Massachusetts, Revolution Wind in Rhode Island and Connecticut, Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind, and two ventures in New York: Sunrise Wind and Empire Wind.
The Interior Department noted that previous unclassified reports have identified issues with the large turbine blades and reflective towers, which create radar interference known as clutter. This clutter can obscure legitimate targets and create false readings in radar systems near wind project locations.
This move comes shortly after a federal judge overturned President Trump’s executive order that blocked wind energy developments, which the judge deemed arbitrary and contradictory to U.S. law. The legality of the halt was challenged by a coalition of 17 state attorneys general, led by New York Attorney General Letitia James, who argued against the executive order restricting wind farm leasing.
Trump has faced criticism for his stance on renewable energy, often favoring fossil fuels for energy production over advancements in wind and solar initiatives.
