U.S. Department of Interior Pauses Large-Scale Offshore Wind Projects Citing National Security Concerns
The Department of Interior has announced an immediate pause on leases for all large-scale offshore wind projects in the United States due to national security risks identified by the Department of War in recently completed classified reports. This pause affects five leases: Vineyard Wind 1, Revolution Wind, CVOW, Sunrise Wind, and Empire Wind.
The decision considers the projects' proximity to East Coast population centers and the rapid evolution of adversary technologies as critical factors. Unclassified reports have found that large turbine blades can create radar clutter that interferes with radar systems and may generate false targets. A 2024 Department of Energy report notes that increasing the radar detection threshold can reduce clutter but risks missing actual targets.
The pause will enable the Department of the Interior, the Department of War, and other agencies to collaborate with leaseholders and state partners to assess and mitigate these risks. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum emphasized that the action prioritizes national security and the protection of the American people.
