The Trump administration paused the creation of offshore wind projects after the Pentagon said the turbines could affect radar systems used by the military. Paused projects include Vineyard Wind 1, Revolution Wind, CVOW – Commercial, Sunrise Wind, and Empire Wind 1.
“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.”
Offshore wind projects pose national security risks, government reports suggest. The turbine blades and reflecting towers interfere with radar systems, creating what is called “clutter.” The clutter created by the wind projects blocks legitimate moving targets, instead creating false targets.
“Wind turbines can cause interference for radar systems because their large towers and moving blades reflect electromagnetic radiation,” a statement from the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Wind Energy Technologies Office (WETO) explains.
In January, President Trump issued a memorandum temporarily withdrawing the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf from offshore wind leasing. Nothing in this withdrawal affects rights under existing leases in the withdrawn areas. “With respect to such existing leases, the Secretary of the Interior, in consultation with the Attorney General as needed, shall conduct a comprehensive review of the ecological, economic, and environmental necessity of terminating or amending any existing wind energy leases, identifying any legal bases for such removal, and submit a report with recommendations to the President, through the Assistant to the President for Economic Policy,” the memo stated.
