Photo: Michael P. Norton/SHNS
NANTUCKET (WBZ NewsRadio) — The Trump administration announced Monday it is halting construction on five wind projects on the East Coast, including Vineyard Wind 1 off the coast of Nantucket.
In a X post, U.S. Department of the Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said the suspension was due to “national security concerns.”
The other projects impacted are Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind, Sunrise Wind, Empire Wind, and Revolution Wind, which is off the coast of Rhode Island and Connecticut.
In response, Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey said in a statement that the stoppage puts bringing affordable energy to the New England region and people’s work in jeopardy.
“It is dangerous to halt construction in the middle of a project, and I will stand up against this unlawful action by the Trump Administration to protect Massachusetts’ ratepayers and workers,” she said. “We are working closely with impacted states and developers to ensure the projects are completed and continue to provide affordable power to our communities.”
Healey called the department's security claims “unfounded,” adding that the pause could prevent the state from saving residents millions of dollars in energy costs this winter.
Construction for the Vineyard Wind project, a 62-turbine wind farm 15-miles off the coast of Nantucket, is almost complete, as several turbines already have been producing power since January 2025. The completion of the farm would power over 400,000 homes and businesses across the Commonwealth.
Earlier this month, local leaders in Nantucket reached a new deal with Vineyard Wind to set clearer and more transparent communications for emergency response during the construction progress. This comes after a blade of a turbine crashed into the ocean and debris were found washed up on shore.