Construction shut down for wind farm off Aquinnah

The Trump administration Friday halted construction on a nearly completed offshore wind energy farm off Aquinnah, citing concerns related to national security. 

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management sent a letter to Revolution Wind ordering the company to stop any work at the 65-turbine project about 12 miles to the southwest of the Island’s western tip. 

Revolution Wind already had all of its approvals from the federal government and was about 80 per cent completed when the order came from BOEM, an agency tasked with overseeing offshore wind.

This is the latest and boldest move by the Trump administration against offshore wind, and drew condemnation from environmental organizations and lawmakers. Ørsted, which has a 50 per cent stake in the wind farm, said in a statement Friday that it is complying with the order and considering its next steps.

“Ørsted is evaluating the potential financial implications of this development, considering a range of scenarios, including legal proceedings,” the company wrote. 

BOEM gave few details on the concerns in its letter to Revolution Wind, and the agency didn’t respond to a request for comment Friday. Acting director Matthew Giacona wrote that the work stoppage was to allow BOEM time to address concerns that arose during a review by the department stemming from an executive order signed by President Donald Trump on his first day in office. 

“In particular, BOEM is seeking to address concerns related to the protection of national security interests of the United States and prevention of interference with reasonable uses of the exclusive economic zone, the high sea, and the territorial seas,” Mr. Giacona wrote. 

The Department of Commerce earlier this month said it would be launching an investigation to determine the effects of importing wind turbine parts on national security. 

The department was interested in learning if domestic production of wind turbine parts could meet the demand in the U.S. It also wanted to look into the potential effects on international trade, and the possibility of other nations weaponizing the turbines, according to a memo from the department. 

Since the offshore wind energy industry is still in its fledgling phase in the U.S., many of the parts are manufactured in foreign countries that have a deeper well of experience in the field. Revolution Wind’s 873-foot tall turbines are manufactured by Siemens Gamesa, which has headquarters in Spain and Germany. 

Revolution Wind, which can be seen on the horizon off Aquinnah, was supposed to supply power to Rhode Island and Connecticut. Connecticut U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal was critical of the decision to shut down construction, saying it comes as residents’ electric bills are skyrocketing. 

“This arbitrary decision defies logic and reason — Revolution Wind’s project was already well underway and employed hundreds of skilled tradesmen and women,” he wrote on social media. “This is a major setback for a critical project in CT, and I will fight it.” 

Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee issued a statement Saturday saying the delay and disruption by the Trump administration undermines his state’s efforts to expand its energy supply.

“We are working with our partners in Connecticut to pursue every avenue to reverse this decision,” he said. “Revolution Wind is key to Rhode Island’s economic development, energy security, and long-term affordability for our residents.” 

Offshore wind energy has come under fire since President Trump started his second term. The President signed an executive order in January that halted any future permitting of projects and ordered a review of all leases in the U.S. 

Many supporters of offshore wind energy at the time believed that projects that had already received approvals would be okay to continue, but this is the second time that a permitted project has been halted by the Trump administration. Empire Wind, a project off the coast of New York, was halted briefly in May, though the administration backed down and later allowed construction to continue. 

The latest swipe at wind power was concerning for Jason Grumet, the CEO of the American Clean Power Association, a group that supports renewable energy. 

“This is not the first time extreme partisan politics has derailed sound energy policy,” he said. “The unfortunate message to investors is clear: the U.S. is no longer a reliable place for long-term energy investments.”

Some in the region that have been against wind energy applauded the decision. 

Cheryl Andrews-Maltais, the chairwoman of the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) tribal council, has for years asked regulators to slow down to consider the effects of wind farms on the ocean, views from the Gay Head Cliffs and security. She saw Friday's order as a sign that the government is belatedly taking that step.

“We are just really relieved that we are finally getting our voices heard and they are going to take a more critical look at it,” she said.

Green Oceans, another group that has launched legal efforts to stop offshore wind, applauded BOEM’s decision, saying it will help preserve the fragile ocean environment off the Massachusetts and Rhode Island coasts. 

“For three years, we have been fighting this battle in court and in the court of public opinion,” said co-founder Bill Thompson. “This decisive action demonstrates that the federal government finally recognizes the seriously flawed permitting process that allowed this project and others to move forward.”

is complying with the order and considering its next steps.

“Ørsted is evaluating the potential financial implications of this development, considering a range of scenarios, including legal proceedings,” the company wrote. 

BOEM gave few details on the concerns in its letter to Revolution Wind, and the agency didn’t respond to a request for comment Friday. Acting director Matthew Giacona wrote that the work stoppage was to allow BOEM time to address concerns that arose during a review by the department stemming from an executive order signed by President Donald Trump on his first day in office. 

“In particular, BOEM is seeking to address concerns related to the protection of national security interests of the United States and prevention of interference with reasonable uses of the exclusive economic zone, the high sea, and the territorial seas,” Mr. Giacona wrote. 

The Department of Commerce earlier this month said it would be launching an investigation to determine the effects of importing wind turbine parts on national security. 

The department was interested in learning if domestic production of wind turbine parts could meet the demand in the U.S. It also wanted to look into the potential effects on international trade, and the possibility of other nations weaponizing the turbines, according to a memo from the department. 

Since the offshore wind energy industry is still in its fledgling phase in the U.S., many of the parts are manufactured in foreign countries that have a deeper well of experience in the field. Revolution Wind’s 873-foot tall turbines are manufactured by Siemens Gamesa, which has headquarters in Spain and Germany. 

Revolution Wind, which can be seen on the horizon off Aquinnah, was supposed to supply power to Rhode Island and Connecticut. Connecticut U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal was critical of the decision to shut down construction, saying it comes as residents’ electric bills are skyrocketing. 

“This arbitrary decision defies logic and reason — Revolution Wind’s project was already well underway and employed hundreds of skilled tradesmen and women,” he wrote on social media. “This is a major setback for a critical project in CT, and I will fight it.” 

Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee issued a statement Saturday saying the delay and disruption by the Trump administration undermines his state’s efforts to expand its energy supply.

“We are working with our partners in Connecticut to pursue every avenue to reverse this decision,” he said. “Revolution Wind is key to Rhode Island’s economic development, energy security, and long-term affordability for our residents.” 

Offshore wind energy has come under fire since President Trump started his second term. The President signed an executive order in January that halted any future permitting of projects and ordered a review of all leases in the U.S. 

Many supporters of offshore wind energy at the time believed that projects that had already received approvals would be okay to continue, but this is the second time that a permitted project has been halted by the Trump administration. Empire Wind, a project off the coast of New York, was halted briefly in May, though the administration backed down and later allowed construction to continue. 

The latest swipe at wind power was concerning for Jason Grumet, the CEO of the American Clean Power Association, a group that supports renewable energy. 

“This is not the first time extreme partisan politics has derailed sound energy policy,” he said. “The unfortunate message to investors is clear: the U.S. is no longer a reliable place for long-term energy investments.”

Some in the region that have been against wind energy applauded the decision. 

Cheryl Andrews-Maltais, the chairwoman of the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) tribal council, has for years asked regulators to slow down to consider the effects of wind farms on the ocean, views from the Gay Head Cliffs and security. She saw Friday's order as a sign that the government is belatedly taking that step.

“We are just really relieved that we are finally getting our voices heard and they are going to take a more critical look at it,” she said.

Green Oceans, another group that has launched legal efforts to stop offshore wind, applauded BOEM’s decision, saying it will help preserve the fragile ocean environment off the Massachusetts and Rhode Island coasts. 

“For three years, we have been fighting this battle in court and in the court of public opinion,” said co-founder Bill Thompson. “This decisive action demonstrates that the federal government finally recognizes the seriously flawed permitting process that allowed this project and others to move forward.”