Furchtgott-Roth says the offshore-wind pause is "not only prudent but essential"
Diana Furchtgott-RothEconomist writing a signed commentary published by The Heritage Foundation
In a signed Heritage Foundation commentary, Furchtgott-Roth defended the December pause on offshore wind projects, calling it "not only prudent but essential" and saying Interior was "entirely justified in expressing security concerns about offshore wind". She named Revolution Wind among the paused projects.
Responding to
Doug Burgum said the offshore-wind pause, which included Revolution Wind, addressed emerging national-security risks from evolving adversary technology and projects near East Coast population centers.
“But the interior department is entirely justified in expressing security concerns about offshore wind.”
Analysis
Where this statement fits
Was the federal government justified in halting Revolution Wind construction?
Federal officials halted construction of Revolution Wind off Rhode Island in August and December 2025, citing national-security concerns. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum defended the December pause, while Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse criticized the interruptions. A federal judge granted preliminary injunctions against both orders. In September 2026, Connecticut announced installation of the project's final turbine.
Source and context
Analysis
About this source
Signed commentary published after Interior's December 22, 2025 suspension of five offshore wind projects. The author supports the suspensions on defense grounds and names Revolution Wind among the paused projects.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Before the quotation
Interior had announced on December 22, 2025 that it was pausing leases for five large offshore wind projects, including Revolution Wind, citing national-security risks. In the same commentary, Furchtgott-Roth wrote that the pause was "not only prudent but essential" given escalating threats from adversaries abroad and radar-interference concerns cited by Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, days after a federal judge ruled the President could not withdraw the offshore wind permits via a January memorandum.
After the quotation
The commentary cites radar interference, undersea detection and supply-chain concerns, and also argues that offshore wind can raise electricity costs.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
Relative to the justification for the halts, she says Interior's security concerns justify the December pause and names Revolution Wind among the paused projects. She defends the action itself rather than merely disputing how it is described.
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More from this case
Read the full caseSinding Daly says the December offshore-wind pause threatened affordability
“Blocking clean energy projects limits our energy options and makes electricity unaffordable”Read statement
Ted Kelly criticized the federal offshore-wind stop orders, including Revolution Wind's, arguing that the region needed additional electricity supply
“it makes no sense”Read statement
Whitehouse calls the renewed security rationale a pretext
“The new pretext was national security risks that had supposedly emerged in the previous thirty days.”Read statement
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- Furchtgott-Roth says the offshore-wind pause is "not only prudent but essential"
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The Dispute Index. "Furchtgott-Roth says the offshore-wind pause is "not only prudent but essential"". First published: 2026-09-24. Last updated: 2026-09-24. https://disputeindex.com/events/2156-in-a-signed-heritage-foundation-commentary-furchtgott-roth