Revolution Wind construction halted again, Trump administration cites national security

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — The legal battle over several offshore wind energy projects continues as the Trump administration cites national security concerns in its latest actions against the construction.

Vineyard Wind and Revolution Wind, the latter based off the Rhode Island coast, are included in the pause from Interior Secretary Doug Burgum.

Both projects are mostly complete.

A previous Trump administration stop work order on the projects was overturned by a federal judge two weeks ago.

A Department of the Interior statement said that the wind farm turbines create radar interference called “clutter.”

“The clutter caused by offshore wind projects obscures legitimate moving targets and generates false targets in the vicinity of the wind projects,” said the statement.

Rhode Island Senator Jack Reed commented on the construction freeze, saying part:

“President Trump’s outdated energy policies are killing good-paying union jobs and have already increased energy bills for the average American family by thirteen percent since January.”