The U.S. Department of the Interior announced today it would pause leases for five offshore wind projects along the East Coast that are already under construction. The announcement is the latest in efforts from the Trump administration and GOP members of Congress to hamper progress in the offshore wind industry. 

The administration claimed the offshore wind turbines interfere with military radar systems. The claim lacks credibility since all the projects were approved in coordination with the U.S. Department of Defense.  

The announcement impacts the Revolution Wind, Sunrise Wind, Vineyard Wind 1, Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind, and Empire Wind 1 projects. Once operational, these projects have the ability to provide six gigawatts of energy, enough to power more than 2.5 million homes with clean, reliable energy. 

Following the announcement, the BlueGreen Alliance issued a statement from Executive Director Jason Walsh: 

“This administration is clearly desperate for an excuse to kill thousands of jobs and ruin our chances at six gigawatts of clean energy generation. These bogus concerns feel very convenient after the courts declared President Trump’s Day One order to pause offshore wind leases illegal. Trump’s attacks are the actual threat to national and economic security since offshore wind would provide a domestic energy source that decreases our reliance on foreign oil. Offshore wind is already proving its potential to provide good, union jobs and huge amounts of clean energy at a time when we need it most. Electricity prices are skyrocketing thanks to Trump and the GOP Congress and energy demand is at an all-time high. Americans can’t afford these delays.”