The US Department of Interior has halted leases and construction on large-scale offshore wind projects in the US, citing “national security risks identified by the Department of War in recently completed classified reports.”
The five projects, with a total capacity of 5.8 GW, include Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind-Commercial, Empire Wind 1, Revolution Wind, Sunrise Wind, and Vineyard Wind 1.
Empire Offshore Wind LLC, a subsidiary of Equinor, confirmed compliance with the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s (BOEM) notice on December 22. The project, over 60% complete, involves trenching, cable-laying, and cable pulling on the US outer continental shelf. Empire cautioned that the stop work order jeopardizes progress and, without a swift resolution, could significantly impact the project.
Revolution Wind LLC and Sunrise Wind LLC are also complying with the orders. Ørsted, the companies’ developer, stated they are taking steps to avoid impacts on health, safety, and the environment while assessing options to resolve the issue quickly. This includes engagements with BOEM and considering legal actions.
Revolution Wind and Sunrise Wind, both in advanced construction stages, aim to supply power to US homes by 2026, with Revolution Wind expected to start generating power in January.
Dominion Energy, behind the 2.6 GW Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project, remarked that the 90-day work suspension “will threaten grid reliability for some of the nation’s key assets.”
Dominion Energy highlighted the bipartisan support for the CVOW project, which is set to generate 2,600 megawatts to aid America’s growing energy grid, vital for critical infrastructure.
In response, Oceantic Network CEO Liz Burdock criticized the suspension as “an attempt to mask the President’s [Trump] aversion to offshore wind.” She noted, “The U.S. offshore wind industry has consistently collaborated with the Department of Defense to address security concerns, with approvals received for every lease before construction.”
Burdock added, “This action follows recent court victories against administrative efforts to delay offshore wind. A federal judge recently vacated a prior permitting pause, and another judge issued an injunction against Revolution Wind’s Stop Work order due to lack of substantiation. This claim contradicts extensive interagency reviews, as these projects had secured clearances from the Department of Defense and the Pentagon.”
Original Story at www.offshorewind.biz