Off Shore Wind Farms; An In-Depth Look

(Washington, DC) –  On December 22, 2025 The Trump administration suspended the leases for multiple wind energy on the East Coast. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum confirmed the suspension in a post on X, writing five leases were being paused due to “national security concerns,” and it marks another escalation of the administration’s attacks on the wind energy industry. A news release from the Interior Department cited potential radar interference known as “clutter” from wind turbines. The projects are located near New England, Virginia and New York with the possibility to generate enough electricity to power up to about two-point-five million. Some believe the massive turbine blades can create radar “clutter,” making it harder to pick out moving targets. In the waters off Texas, that could mean picking up drug smuggling boats.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul is fuming after President Trump halted five off shore wind projects, including a big one off Long Island. The five billion dollar Empire Wind project is projected to power half a million homes through clean renewable energy. Hochul says thousands of people are losing their jobs in killing the project and calls it an attack on New York. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum says the five leases are being paused due to national security concerns.

The federal order also puts a 90-day suspension on the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind Project. The wind project has been in the works for years and was close to completion. Virginia Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine released a statement saying the administration failed to share new information that supports their claims the project could interfere with radar systems. They also said stopping the project puts billions in private investment at risk, threatens jobs, and threatens the state’s power grid of which demand is growing fast.

In Massachusetts, Vineyard Wind, Revolution Wind and Sunrise Wind projects were set to bring at least 120 wind turbines just south of Martha’s Vineyard. Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey criticized the decision, saying the turbines would have brought more affordable energy to the region.

Proponents of the wind farms cite a source of clean, renewable energy, saving homeowners hundreds, if not thousands, in utility bills, plus the jobs they bring to the areas they’re in. Deterrents though say the wind farms disrupt the natural environment, throwing off sea mammals and other creatures that use organic “radar’ systems. Some claim the giant windmills change the tides. The government says the turbines cause potential radar interference known as “clutter” .

According to the Department of Energy, wind energy currently provides about 10% of U.S. electricity and remains the nation’s largest source of renewable power.