On December 22, 2025, the US Department of the Interior issued an immediate halt on five major offshore wind projects being constructed in federal waters off East Coast due to classified assessments conducted by defense agencies that identify national security risks due to turbine structures interfering with radar frequency interference.
Vineyard Wind 1 Suspension.
Vineyard Wind 1, developed by Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners and Avangrid and located 15 miles southwest of Nantucket in Massachusetts, has partially opened for business with 50 of 62 turbines contributing power to the grid. All construction activities including transport of turbine components through New Bedford Harbour have now ceased following a federal notice, and full operation was originally expected by mid-2026 due to prior delays.
This interruption to operations despite federal permits demonstrates tensions between renewable energy goals and defense needs.
Revolution Wind and Sunrise Wind Orders to Orsted
Orsted was ordered to cease all offshore activities on Revolution Wind in Rhode Island and Connecticut waters, as well as Sunrise Wind offshore New York waters for at least 90 days (possibly extendable), due to an initial 90 day suspension with potential extension possible for both projects with capacities of 700MW and 924MW, respectively, due for completion in 2026-2027 respectively. Orsted confirmed compliance while exploring engagement options with regulators or legal matters as a potential way forward.
These suspensions highlight wider concerns over wind farm proximity to population centers and military installations.
Empire Wind 1 Progress in Danger
Empire Wind 1, an Equinor-developed 2-GW project offshore New York that is more than 60% complete and underway cable installation, received its suspension notice from the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management on December 22. Equinor's project with New York State Energy Research and Development Authority involves multiple vessels and over 1,000 personnel and they have cooperated fully with authorities since 2017 with regards to mitigating security issues and are cooperating fully in this matter.
Construction projects have generated nearly 4,000 jobs and rejuvenated South Brooklyn Marine Terminal with potentially significant ramifications from any possible halts.
Dominion Energy Sues Over Coastal Virginia Halt
Dominion Energys 2.6 GW Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project, situated 27 to 44 miles offshore Virginia with operational pilot turbines, faces compliance with a pause order. Dominion warns of grid reliability risks and job losses from rapid energy demand growth from data centers and military needs in Virginia. On December 26th Dominion filed suit in Norfolk federal court challenging this order as unconstitutional; Dominion claims this order costs them daily more than $5 Million due to vessel idling fees alone.
US District Judge Jamar Walker scheduled a hearing for a temporary restraining order hearing, as Democratic governors in affected states pledge to contest any actions by the Trump Administration against renewables.
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum recently highlighted risks posed by turbine blades and towers obscuring radar targets, leading to radar clutter. To mitigate these effects, collaboration among leaseholders, states, and agencies on mitigation strategies has been temporarily suspended without an estimated date for their reinstatement; this move aligns with previous Trump-era delays as well as ongoing lawsuits by conservative groups.