US Suspends Permits for Five East Coast Offshore Wind Projects on Security Concerns

The US government has suspended permits for five offshore wind projects under construction along the East Coast, citing national security concerns and raising fresh doubts over a sector that has faced repeated opposition from the Trump administration.

The Interior Department announced the move Monday, saying the large-scale turbines could interfere with radar systems. The suspension of operational permits will allow federal agencies to work with developers and state authorities to mitigate potential security risks, the department said in a statement.

Shares of offshore wind companies fell following the announcement. Denmark’s Orsted A/S, a co-developer of the Revolution Wind project, slid as much as 15.8% in Copenhagen trading. Turbine maker Vestas Wind Systems A/S and Dominion Energy Inc., which is developing the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project, each declined as much as 5.8%.

President Donald Trump has long opposed offshore wind and moved to restrict the industry just hours after taking office this year. Those actions have triggered multiple legal challenges, and a federal judge ruled earlier this month that the administration’s blanket ban on offshore wind projects was unlawful. Citing national security risks may offer a more legally defensible path to blocking turbine development in US waters.

“These towers are massive,” Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said in an interview with Fox Business. “You can understand how structures of this size could create problems for radar systems.”

National security concerns surrounding offshore wind projects predate the current administration. Under former President Joe Biden, the Defense Department pushed for modifications to lease terms along the West Coast to address similar radar and security issues.

Projects affected by the permit suspension include Vineyard Wind 1 off the coast of Massachusetts, Revolution Wind near Rhode Island, Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind, as well as Empire Wind 1 and Sunrise Wind, both located off New York, according to the Interior Department.

“The movement of large turbine blades and highly reflective towers creates radar interference known as ‘clutter,’” the agency said.

Orsted, Dominion, Equinor ASA and Vineyard Wind did not immediately respond to requests for comment.