What is the story about?
The Trump administration on Monday, December 22, suspended leases for five large offshore wind projects that are under construction off the US East Coast.
It cited national security concerns, sending shares of offshore wind companies plunging.
The suspension was the latest blow for offshore wind developers that have faced repeated disruptions to their multi-billion-dollar projects under US President Donald Trump, who has said he finds wind turbines ugly, costly and inefficient.
The US Department of the Interior said the move was the result of complaints by the Pentagon that the movement of the huge turbine blades as well as the highly reflective towers that hold them up, cause radar interference that can make it hard to identify and locate threats.
Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum has previously said offshore wind installations can make the United States more vulnerable to attacks by swarms of drones.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul and Connecticut Attorney General William Tong said in separate statements on Monday that states affected by the freeze were reviewing their options.
The National Ocean Industries Association, a trade group representing offshore wind developers, urged the administration to end the pause quickly, pointing out that the Pentagon had been involved in approving the projects under past administrations.
It cited national security concerns, sending shares of offshore wind companies plunging.
The suspension was the latest blow for offshore wind developers that have faced repeated disruptions to their multi-billion-dollar projects under US President Donald Trump, who has said he finds wind turbines ugly, costly and inefficient.
The US Department of the Interior said the move was the result of complaints by the Pentagon that the movement of the huge turbine blades as well as the highly reflective towers that hold them up, cause radar interference that can make it hard to identify and locate threats.
Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum has previously said offshore wind installations can make the United States more vulnerable to attacks by swarms of drones.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul and Connecticut Attorney General William Tong said in separate statements on Monday that states affected by the freeze were reviewing their options.
The National Ocean Industries Association, a trade group representing offshore wind developers, urged the administration to end the pause quickly, pointing out that the Pentagon had been involved in approving the projects under past administrations.
