Politics & Government
Trump Administration Pauses Wind Projects Off Rhode Island And Massachusetts
Wind projects were also paused off the coasts of Virginia and New York.
The Trump administration paused five offshore wind projects, including one off the coast of Rhode Island and another off the coast of Massachusetts.
"The Department of the Interior announced today that it is pausing — effective immediately — the leases for all large-scale offshore wind projects under construction in the United States due to national security risks identified by the Department of War in recently completed classified reports," a media release from Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum's office said Monday.
Related: Trump Administration Orders Work Stoppage On Wind Farm Off Rhode Island
Find out what's happening in Across Rhode Islandfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The release provided no information about the supposed national security risks.
The release identified five leases that were paused, including Revolution Wind off the coast of Rhode Island and Vineyard wind off the coast of Massachusetts.
Find out what's happening in Across Rhode Islandfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Related: RI And CT AGs Threaten To Sue Trump Administration Over Wind Farm Work Stoppage
“The prime duty of the United States government is to protect the American people,” Burgum said in the release.
“Today’s action addresses emerging national security risks, including the rapid evolution of the relevant adversary technologies, and the vulnerabilities created by large-scale offshore wind projects with proximity near our east coast population centers," Burgum said. "The Trump administration will always prioritize the security of the American people.”
Related: Federal Judge Reverses Rhode Island's Revolution Wind Work Stoppage: News 12
The other three projects are off the coasts of New York and Virginia.
The Trump Administration ordered a halt to work on Revolution wind in August. The project was 80% complete at the time.
Soon after, the attorneys general of Rhode Island and Connecticut sued the Trump administration, with Rhode Island Attorney General Peter F. Neronha calling the stop-work order "bizarre."
See also: Feds Want Providence Man Charged With Threatening Trump Arrested Again
A federal judge then reversed the Trump administration's order to halt work on the project.
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