Update: Immediate Freeze of All Large-Scale Offshore Wind Leasing – Reactions Yay and Nay

What is being hailed as a “Merry Christmas” gift to many who oppose offshore wind off the coast of New England, is being seen as a lump of coal dashed into their holiday celebrations.

On Tuesday afternoon, the Department of the Interior made their announcement:

The Department of the Interior announced today that it is pausing—effective immediately—the leases for all large-scale offshore wind projects under construction in the United States due to national security risks identified by the Department of War in recently completed classified reports. This pause will give the Department, along with the Department of War and other relevant government agencies, time to work with leaseholders and state partners to assess the possibility of mitigating the national security risks posed by these projects.

“The prime duty of the United States government is to protect the American people,” said Secretary of the Interior 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 following leases are paused:

1. Vineyard Wind 1 (OCS-A 0501)
2. Revolution Wind (OCS-A 0486)
3. CVOW – Commercial (OCS-A 0483)
4. Sunrise Wind (OCS-A 0487)
5. Empire Wind 1 (OCS-A 0512)

As for the national security risks inherent to large-scale offshore wind projects, unclassified reports from the U.S. Government have long found that the movement of massive turbine blades and the highly reflective towers create radar interference called “clutter.” The clutter caused by offshore wind projects obscures legitimate moving targets and generates false targets in the vicinity of the wind projects.

The Department of Energy in a 2024 report stated that a radar’s threshold for false alarm detection can be increased to reduce some clutter, but an increased detection threshold could cause the radar to “miss actual targets.”

Today’s action ensures that national security risks posed by offshore wind projects are appropriately addressed and that the United States government retains its ability to effectively defend the American people.

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The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) noted: “The Department of the Interior and BOEM are implementing President Trump’s memorandum temporarily halting offshore wind leasing on the Outer Continental Shelf. The memorandum also pauses new or renewed approvals, rights-of-way, permits, leases, or loans for offshore wind projects pending a review of federal wind leasing and permitting practices.”

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Southcoast Wind – off the coasts of Rhode Island & Massachusetts

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The Nantucket Current had a response from ACK for Whales, the non-profit group that has opposed the Vineyard Wind farm and other offshore wind energy projects for years, hailed the decision by the Trump administration.

“ACK for Whales is very pleased with the President’s announcement,” said Val Oliver, the organization’s founding director. “Our organization has been primarily focused on the harm these projects inflict upon our ocean and upon animals like the North Atlantic right whale. However, there are many other negative impacts from these projects as well. We have long cited the very real threat from radar interference caused by these enormous offshore wind turbines. Not only does this pose a danger to fishermen and others on the water, but this obviously also poses a massive national security threat. It is very satisfying that this threat is finally being recognized and acted upon.”

The Current noted: “The only two wind farms off the east coast of the United States not impacted by the pause are the fully operational Block Island Wind, off Rhode Island, and South Fork Wind, off New York”.

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Almost immediately, a news release was received from Rep. Magaziner:

Within 15 minutes,, the second, from Sen. Whitehouse:

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Statement of Rep. Gabe Amo:

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Statement of Senator Jack Reed:

President Trump’s outdated energy policies have already spiked energy bills by 13% this year. This re-do attempt to stop Revolution Wind is bad for our economy and environment kills good-paying union jobs and does absolutely nothing to lower costs.

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Statement of RI Governor Dan McKee:

“The Trump administration’s latest attempt to derail offshore wind projects is reckless and unjustified. It threatens local economies, thousands of jobs, and the affordable, reliable energy our communities need. Trying to stop these projects now is cruel to workers and their families, especially during the holiday season. Revolution Wind is nearly complete, has received all necessary approvals, and has had its permits upheld by a federal court—there is no reason to halt its progress. We will work with other impacted states to pursue every available option to keep this project, and others like it, moving forward.”

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Statement of RI Attorney General Neronha – issued the following statement after the Trump Administration announced that it would suspend leases for five East Coast wind farms, including Revolution Wind: “Today’s surprise suspension order affecting nearly a half-dozen of America’s wind energy sites, including nearly completed Revolution Wind off the coast of Rhode Island, is yet another attempt by this President to continue his all-out assault on wind energy,” said Attorney General Neronha. “The actions of this Administration have undercut our clean energy infrastructure, causing Rhode Islanders to pay the price – in the cost of ever-increasing energy bills, placing well-paying jobs in jeopardy, and preventing a future of domestic clean energy production. The courts have already reaffirmed what we have known to be true since day one: that this President cannot cancel clean energy projects just because he believes doing so is politically expedient for him. We are reviewing today’s suspension order, and will continue to stand up to this President when his actions threaten to harm Rhode Islanders.”

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Statement from Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Director, HHS:  “Offshore wind is bad energy policy, bad environmental policy and bad economic policy. It kills whales,destroys local ground fisheries and decimates Shoreline communities. The turbines – some of them twice the height of the Washington Monument – pose navigational hazards that disrupt Marine on aviation radar endangering American lives and national security. They produce energy that is three times the cost of the average price per kilowatt hour. This boondoggle benefits only the big financial houses like Blackrock and Goldman and foreign construction firms. Thank you President Trump for this decisive action.”

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MA Gov. Maura Healey: “Energy costs are already too high. It makes absolutely no sense for the Trump Administration to halt construction on a project that is bringing more affordable energy to our region. This puts people out of work during the holidays. Vineyard Wind has been producing power for a year, bringing down costs for residents and businesses, while creating nearly 4,000 jobs right here in Massachusetts. Donald Trump should be embracing an all-of-the-above approach to American energy, not shutting down critical sources like wind. It is dangerous to halt construction in the middle of a project, and I will stand up against this unlawful action by the Trump Administration to protect Massachusetts’ ratepayers and workers. We are working closely with impacted states and developers to ensure the projects are completed and continue to provide affordable power to our communities.”

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Revolution Wind LLC and Sunrise Wind LLC are also complying with the respective orders and are taking appropriate steps to suspend related activities in a manner that prevents impacts on health, safety, and the environment, Ørsted said, adding that they are evaluating all options to resolve the matter expeditiously, together with its partners. This includes engagement with BOEM and other permitting agencies, as well as the evaluation of potential legal proceedings, said Ørsted.

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Update:  The Nantucket Current included this information, speaking to impacts on national security: 

“A report released by the Department of Energy says that “the clutter created by wind turbines typically increases the false alarm detection rate of a radar…potentially impacting their ability to perform their mission” when placed directly in the radar’s line of sight, and that “to date, no mitigation technology has been able to fully restore the technical performance of impacted radars.”

The year-old report did not initially spark the Trump administration to halt offshore wind, and the issue of radar interference has been discussed for years, with some experts minimizing the issue and other reports suggesting it could have a major impact on the offshore wind industry.

Some national security experts have disputed the administration’s claims about the impact of offshore wind on national security.

National security expert and former Commander of the USS Cole Kirk Lippold told the Associated Press and the New York Times that “the record of decisions all show that the Department of Defense was consulted at every stage of the permitting process,” and argued that the projects would benefit national security because they would diversify the country’s energy supply.

A 2020 report released by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management found that Vineyard Wind would have a “moderate” impact on radar, primarily on SeaSonde radar used to measure coastal ocean currents. It did not project any impact on the Air Route Surveillance or NEXRAD Radars used by the Department of Defense, as it found no such radar within the project’s line of sight.”

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This is a developing story.