US pauses offshore wind projects over radar interference concerns

The U.S. government has paused five major offshore wind projects along the East Coast due to national security concerns raised by the Pentagon, specifically regarding radar interference. The projects affected include Vineyard Wind (Massachusetts), Revolution Wind (Rhode Island and Connecticut), Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind, and two New York projects—Sunrise Wind and Empire Wind. All five projects hold federal leases and are in various stages of construction. The Interior Department, working with the Defense Department and other agencies, will assess and seek to mitigate risks related to radar “clutter” caused by turbine blades and towers, which can obscure legitimate radar targets and generate false signals, potentially complicating coastal surveillance near densely populated areas. This pause follows ongoing legal battles over federal wind policy, including a recent court decision that struck down a broad executive order from the Trump administration aimed at halting wind development nationwide. Unlike the previous sweeping ban, the current action is more targeted, focusing on specific projects rather than an outright prohibition. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum