Trump's recently announced strategy to impede offshore wind farms: Utilize national security as justification
The Interior Department has halted construction on the Revolution Wind project, a 65-turbine offshore wind farm off the coast of Rhode Island, citing national security concerns. This decision comes amidst a series of moves by the Trump administration to curtail wind development.
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum cited radar interference and a theoretical undersea drone attack as potential threats to national security. However, critics and legal analysts question the rationale behind this decision, with many arguing that the issues related to radar interference can be mitigated through software upgrades and training.
Kirk Lippold, an analyst who was serving as commander of the USS Cole when it was attacked by al Qaeda suicide bombers in 2000, called Burgum's concerns about an undersea drone attack "a specious argument."
The Revolution Wind project was permitted by the Biden administration in 2023 and had 45 of its turbines installed before construction was halted. The project, which would power 350,000 homes, was identified by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management after consultation with the Defense Department.
The Defense Department operates a clearinghouse since 2011 to help identify suitable sites for onshore and offshore wind development that do not interfere with military radar. The Department of Defense also has a role in identifying offshore wind development areas.
The Interior Department's decision to halt Revolution Wind is not the only instance where wind development has been curtailed. The department also halted new leasing on federal land, revoked designated offshore wind development areas, and paused work on Empire Wind, a 54-turbine project off New York. The pause on Empire Wind was not due to national security concerns, but due to potential negative impacts on commercial fishing, citing a report from NOAA that was never made public.
Supporters of wind turbines argue that such claims are overblown and ignore ways to mitigate radar interference. They claim that the benefits of renewable energy outweigh the potential risks.
The story also appears in Energywire. The decision to stop Revolution Wind is the latest in a series of moves by the Trump administration to curtail wind development, with President Donald Trump previously criticizing wind turbines, labeling them as "ugly," causing whales to become disoriented, and calling their finances a "con job."
A report titled "Canceling Offshore Wind Leases" was sent to Interior officials by the anti-offshore wind group Green Oceans, which has sued to stop Revolution Wind. The report argues that the government's leasing and interagency coordination processes place the burden to deconflict use and access requirements on the national security mission.
As the debate over wind energy and national security continues, it remains to be seen how the Interior Department's decision to halt Revolution Wind will impact the future of offshore wind development in the United States.
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