The US Interior Department announced on Monday that it is halting all leases for offshore wind projects, because of unspecified "national security" risks.
The move, as reported by AFP, casts fresh uncertainty over an industry long opposed by President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly criticised windmills for their appearance and reliability.
The suspension immediately affects five major projects along the Atlantic coast that were under development. “The pause gives 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 Interior Department said in a statement.
The decision follows classified reports from the Pentagon identifying potential “national security risks.” While details were not disclosed, the Department of Energy had previously flagged concerns about radar interference caused by offshore wind farms.
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum criticised the projects on X, calling them “expensive, unreliable, heavily subsidised offshore wind farms.” He added: “ONE natural gas pipeline supplies as much energy as these 5 projects COMBINED.”
Projects on hold
The five affected projects include Vineyard Wind off Massachusetts, Revolution Wind off Rhode Island, CVOW off Virginia, and the Sunrise and Empire projects near New York. Together, they were expected to supply electricity to millions of homes and businesses along the Eastern Seaboard.
Since taking office in January, Trump has moved to block new permits for windfarms on federal lands and waters and has also tried to halt all federal loans for wind energy.
Analysts say the latest suspension may delay the nation’s renewable energy targets and add uncertainty for investors and states relying on offshore wind to meet climate and energy goals.
However, the Interior Department insisted the pause is temporary and is intended to address national security concerns while exploring possible mitigation strategies.
