Vet Voice Foundation Condemns Suspension of Offshore Wind Leases

(Washington, DC) – Today, the Trump administration announced that it is suspending leases for five offshore wind projects under construction off the East Coast, citing unspecified national security concerns. The five projects are Vineyard Wind 1 off Massachusetts, Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind off Virginia, Sunrise Wind and Empire Wind off New York, and Revolution Wind off Rhode Island and Connecticut. While invoking national security gives the administration more leeway to broaden its authority, claims that offshore wind poses a threat to our security couldn’t be further from the truth. The American offshore wind industry plays a vital role in our national security by strengthening our maritime industry and adding domestic, reliable energy to our energy mix.

In response, Janessa Goldbeck, U.S. Marine Corps veteran and CEO of Vet Voice Foundation released the following statement:

“This isn’t about national security – it’s a political gift to fossil fuel donors that will raise electricity bills for U.S. households and increase our risk of blackouts this winter. The real security threat is a grid that is vulnerable to blackouts and reliant on foreign energy. Developing American offshore wind helps protect our nation against blackouts, strengthens America’s energy independence, and creates jobs across our maritime industry that benefit naval security and keep our workforce prepared for potential conflicts. The Trump administration’s actions to hinder the U.S. offshore wind industry have undoubtedly made our nation less safe.”