Overview
- The Interior Department ordered an immediate pause on federal leases for Vineyard Wind I, Revolution Wind, Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind, Sunrise Wind, and Empire Wind 1.
- The government cites Pentagon findings that turbine blades and reflective towers create radar clutter that can obscure real targets and generate false ones, with a 2024 DOE report noting mitigation trade‑offs.
- Vineyard Wind I is partly operational and roughly three‑quarters built, with multi‑billion‑dollar investments now stranded while construction across all five projects is halted.
- The action follows a federal ruling two weeks earlier that struck down a prior Trump executive order against offshore wind, prompting fresh legal and political challenges from environmental groups and developers.
- Industry groups say the affected projects represent about $25 billion in investment and were expected to power more than 2.5 million homes, while Interior says it will work with lessees and states on potential fixes during the pause.