US Halts Five Major Offshore Wind Projects, Citing Security Risks and Roiling Energy Markets

The Trump administration has suspended leases for five major offshore wind projects under construction along the U.S. East Coast, dealing a significant blow to the offshore wind industry and triggering sharp declines in company share prices. The U.S. Department of the Interior said the pause was driven by national security concerns raised by the Pentagon, marking one of the most aggressive actions yet against the sector under President Donald Trump. According to the Interior Department, the massive turbine blades and reflective towers associated with offshore wind farms can interfere with military radar systems, potentially complicating the detection of security threats. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said the suspension would allow federal agencies time to work with project developers and state authorities to assess whether these risks can be mitigated, emphasizing that national security remains the government’s top priority. The freeze affects some of the largest offshore wind developments in the country, including Ørsted’s Revolution Wind and Sunrise Wind projects, Vineyard Wind 1 developed by Avangrid and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, Dominion Energy’s Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind, and Equinor’s Empire Wind 1. The announcement sent shockwaves through markets, with Ørsted’s shares falling more than 12%, while Dominion and Equinor also saw declines. Developers and state officials pushed back strongly against the decision. Dominion warned that halting its Virginia project could threaten grid reliability, including power supplies for military bases and data centers supporting artificial intelligence. Ørsted said its projects were nearing completion and were expected to supply electricity to around one million homes across multiple states beginning next year. Both companies said they were evaluating their options. Democratic governors and attorneys general in affected states, including New York and Connecticut, said they are reviewing possible responses. New York Governor Kathy Hochul called the move unjustified and accused the administration of undermining clean energy investments and job creation. Industry groups echoed those concerns, noting that the Pentagon had already reviewed and approved the projects during earlier permitting processes. The freeze adds to growing political tension around U.S. energy policy. Senior Democrats warned they may withdraw support for future bipartisan permitting reform unless the administration reverses its stance on offshore wind. Trump has long criticized wind power as costly and unreliable, while promoting fossil fuels, and has previously pledged to shut down the offshore wind industry altogether. For offshore wind developers, the latest suspension deepens uncertainty around billions of dollars in investment and casts doubt over the future of large-scale renewable energy expansion in the United States.