The Trump administration said Monday it is pausing leases for five large-scale offshore wind projects under construction along the East Coast due to unspecified national security risks identified by the Pentagon.
The action is effective immediately and will allow the Interior Department to collaborate with the Defense Department and other agencies to examine potential security risks associated with the projects.
The prime duty of the United States government is to protect the American people, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum 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.
The leases affected include the Vineyard Wind project in Massachusetts, Revolution Wind in Rhode Island and Connecticut, Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind, and two New York projects: Sunrise Wind and Empire Wind.
The condemnation of offshore wind projects stems from concerns that the massive turbine blades and reflective towers create radar interference known as clutter, which can obscure legitimate targets, creating false readings in nearby areas.
This decision follows a federal court ruling that struck down a Trump executive order blocking wind energy projects, declaring it arbitrary and capricious while violating U.S. law.
Judge Patti Saris from the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts ruled in favor of a coalition of attorneys general from 17 states and Washington, D.C., who challenged the executive order that halted wind energy project leasing.
Trump has historically opposed renewable energy initiatives, especially offshore wind, prioritizing fossil fuels for electricity production.
