An offshore wind farm viewed from the shore during sunset.

Credit: Nuttawut Uttamaharad/Big Stock Photo

Trump administration blocks key offshore wind projects, citing vague national security concerns

The Trump administration has abruptly halted multiple offshore wind projects, including the nearly completed $6.2 billion Revolution Wind farm, citing unspecified national security concerns and throwing the industry into turmoil.

Brad Plumer and Lisa Friedman report for The New York Times.

In short:

The Interior Department has stopped construction on several offshore wind projects, including ones in Rhode Island, New York, and Idaho, despite full federal approvals, financing, and progress toward completion.
Officials have not provided clear explanations, instead referencing broad “national security” concerns, prompting legal and political backlash from state leaders and energy developers.
The delays jeopardize thousands of jobs, billions in clean energy investment, and grid reliability in the Northeast, while analysts warn of long-term damage to investor confidence.

Key quote:

“This action is a flashing red light for capital investment in clean energy projects. If you’ve gotten all your permits and spent billions of dollars, and even then they can pull the plug, well, who is going to want to put their money up?”

— Michael Gerrard, director of the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law at Columbia University

Why this matters:

Offshore wind is a cornerstone of U.S. clean energy goals, designed to cut emissions, stabilize power grids, and reduce dependence on fossil fuels. Projects like Revolution Wind promise to deliver electricity to hundreds of thousands of homes while supporting domestic manufacturing and union jobs. But the Trump administration’s sudden and unexplained reversals send a chilling message to developers and investors: Even fully permitted projects are not safe from political disruption.

www.nytimes.com

Trump administration blocks key offshore wind projects, citing vague national security concerns

China fuels Southeast Asia’s clean energy and pollution at the same time

More Americans are choosing natural burials to minimize environmental impact

FEMA workers say mismanagement under Trump puts disaster response at risk

China will set hard emission limits for polluting industries starting in 2027

Wine, olive oil, and produce prices climb as southern Europe’s farms struggle with drought and heat

Colorado River talks stall as low water, rising heat force urgent reckoning

India’s dam release triggers mass evacuations in flood-hit eastern Pakistan

Multiple Houston-area oil and gas facilities that have violated pollution laws are seeking permit renewals

One facility has emitted cancer-causing chemicals into waterways at levels up to 520% higher than legal limits.

Pennsylvania health advocates say Trump’s first 100 days in office have caused “100 harms” to local communities

“They're terrorizing these scientists because they want to keep them silent.”

Regulators are underestimating health impacts from air pollution: Study

"The reality is, we are not exposed to one chemical at a time.”

Two years into his term, has Gov. Shapiro kept his promises to regulate Pennsylvania’s fracking industry?

A new report assesses the administration’s progress and makes new recommendations

An open letter from EPA staff to the American public

“We cannot stand by and allow this to happen. We need to hold this administration accountable.”

New evidence links heavy metal pollution with wildfire retardants

“The chemical black box” that blankets wildfire-impacted areas is increasingly under scrutiny.