Trump Stops Progress on Wind Energy Venture in New England, Nearing Completion

In a move that has raised concerns among renewable energy advocates, the Trump administration has halted construction on the nearly complete Revolution Wind offshore wind project off the coast of Rhode Island. The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), under the U.S. Department of the Interior, issued the order to halt construction, citing unspecified concerns about national security.

The Revolution Wind project, developed by Orsted, is about 80% complete, with 45 of its 65 turbines already installed. The project, located more than 15 miles south of the Rhode Island coast, 32 miles southeast of the Connecticut coast, and 12 miles southwest of Martha's Vineyard, was expected to be Rhode Island and Connecticut's first commercial-scale offshore wind farm, capable of powering more than 350,000 homes. The densely populated states have minimal space available for land-based energy projects.

Governors Dan McKee of Rhode Island and Ned Lamont of Connecticut have criticized the stop-work order and plan to pursue every avenue to reverse it. The federal government has not specified what the national security concerns are, leading to questions about the rationale behind the decision.

Kit Kennedy, managing director for the power division at the Natural Resources Defense Council, criticized the Trump administration for trying to prop up coal plants while hindering solar and wind power. President Trump has prioritized fossil fuels and has called wind and solar power "THE SCAM OF THE CENTURY!"

The Trump administration has also halted construction on the Empire Wind offshore wind project in New York. Construction on Empire Wind was allowed to resume after intervention by New York Sen. Chuck Schumer and Gov. Kathy Hochul.

The U.S. has only one fully operational large-scale offshore wind project producing power. Wind power is the largest source of renewable energy in the U.S., providing about 10% of the electricity generated nationwide. Scientists across the globe agree that nations need to rapidly embrace renewable energy to stave off the worst effects of climate change.

The halt in construction of Revolution Wind has been welcomed by Green Oceans, a nonprofit that opposes the offshore wind industry. Erik Milito, president of the National Ocean Industries Assn., supports offshore oil, gas, and wind energy.

The article was written by O'Malley for the Associated Press. AP writer Jennifer McDermott and Matthew Daly contributed to the report.