DoD Blocks Approvals for 165 Onshore Wind Projects Over Security Concerns

The Trump administration has escalated its opposition to renewable energy by directing the Department of Defense (DoD) to pause approvals for onshore wind farms. The move affects projects across the United States that normally require a routine radar‑interference review.

Wind turbines can create radar clutter that interferes with military tracking systems. Developers usually pay a fee for the DoD to adjust its radar filters, a process that can be completed in days when the site poses low risk. The current pause includes projects that have already cleared negotiations and those that would normally be deemed risk‑free.

About 165 projects are now stalled. Thirty‑five wind farms that finished negotiations are waiting for final DoD sign‑off, a status first reported by Axios in March. An additional 30 projects have verbal approvals but lack written confirmation. Roughly 50 projects remain in active negotiations, while another 50 that would likely have been cleared without review are now caught in the shutdown.

Developers say the setbacks began in August 2025. They report missed communications, canceled meetings that were not rescheduled, and direct notices that the DoD has stopped processing their applications. These disruptions have halted construction timelines and raised uncertainty for investors.

The American Clean Power Association, which tracks renewable projects, confirms the breadth of the halt and notes that the DoD’s actions represent a significant escalation in the administration’s broader campaign against clean‑energy initiatives.

What it means: The pause threatens to delay up to hundreds of megawatts of new wind capacity, potentially slowing progress toward national renewable targets. Industry observers will watch for any policy shift or legal challenge that could reopen the approval pipeline.