Trump admin orders pause of 5 major offshore wind projects on East Coast

The Trump administration ordered a pause on construction for five major offshore wind projects on the East Coast. Department of the Interior (DOI) Secretary Doug Burgum announced the immediate suspension of leases for the wind projects, citing national security risks based on classified reports from the Department of Defense.

The Trump administration said there will be a 90-day pause to allow the Interior Department and other agencies to work with project developers to determine if the perceived security threats, which reportedly involve potential radar interference from the turbines, can be mitigated.

“The prime duty of the United States government is to protect the American people,” Secretary Doug Burgum. “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 Trump administration will always prioritize the security of the American people.”

The administration paused the following leases:

1. Vineyard Wind 1
2. Revolution Wind
3. CVOW – Commercial
4. Sunrise Wind
5. Empire Wind 1

But project developers, state officials, and environmental advocates all oppose the pause of the five offshore wind projects and have taken legal action against the Trump administration. Since the Department of Defense already approved the projects during their initial permitting phases, critics believe the Trump administration is trying to block wind energy development since some of the affected projects, such as Vineyard Wind 1, were already partially operational or nearing completion when the order was issued.

“Blocking construction on all offshore wind projects underway in the U.S. is an attack on our economy and our public health,” Melinda Pierce, legislative director of Sierra Club, said. The Trump administration’s vengeance towards renewable energy knows no end. Instead of progressing us forward as a nation, they are obsessed with attacking a growing industry that provides good clean energy jobs and affordable, clean electricity. Americans need cheaper and more reliable energy that does not come at the expense of our health and futures.”