The Trump administration suspended leases for five major offshore wind projects under construction off the East Coast, due to national security risks flagged by the Pentagon. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum announced the immediate pause, allowing time to assess mitigation options with the Defense Department. The move targets projects near population centers, citing radar interference from turbine blades and towers.
Affected Offshore Wind Projects
The halted leases include specific sites with federal designations:
- Vineyard Wind 1 (OCS-A 0501), off Massachusetts, developed by Avangrid and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners.
- Revolution Wind (OCS-A 0486), off Rhode Island, led by Ørsted.
- Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind (CVOW, OCS-A 0483), off Virginia Beach.
- Sunrise Wind (OCS-A 0487), off New York.
- Empire Wind 1 (OCS-A 0512), off New York and New Jersey.
These projects, leased under the prior administration, faced prior delays, including a court-overturned halt on Revolution Wind.
National Security Reasons Cited
Pentagon concerns center on turbine clutter disrupting radar by obscuring real targets and creating false ones. Burgum highlighted “emerging national security risks” from adversary tech advances and project locations near East Coast cities. Unclassified reports note blade movement and reflective structures as key issues.
Economic Impacts of Offshore Wind Pause
The projects represent $25 billion in value and could power 2.5 million homes, per advocacy group Turn Forward. They promised 10,000 jobs, now at risk, leaving only two operational U.S. wind farms: one off Rhode Island since 2016 and another off New York in 2023. Developer stocks dropped sharply post-announcement.
This offshore wind lease suspension aligns with broader Trump policies prioritizing security over renewables. Developers like Equinor seek clarification on next steps.
