Green Oceans and Tribal Nations File Petitions Against Offshore Wind Projects

Strategic Insights -

Green Oceans and a coalition of tribal nations have filed petitions with nine federal agencies, calling for the suspension of all offshore wind projects off the Northeast Atlantic coast, citing national security risks, violations of federal trust responsibilities to Tribal Nations, and irreparable harm to historic and cultural resources.

The petitions, filed with the U.S. Departments of the Interior, Transportation, Defense, Homeland Security, and others, highlight unprecedented national security risks, including interference with the PAVE PAWS Early Warning Radar at Cape Cod Space Force Station, which protects the entire East Coast from ballistic missile threats. The petitions also detail aviation safety hazards, maritime safety risks, and undersea surveillance and cybersecurity vulnerabilities. Additionally, the four Native American tribes argue that their sovereignty and legal rights were not considered in the planning of these projects, constituting a breach of the federal trust responsibility and violating the United States obligations under the Constitution and other statutes and treaties.

Key Takeaways:

  • The petitions were filed with 9 federal agencies, including the U.S. Departments of the Interior, Transportation, Defense, and Homeland Security.
  • The petitions detail 6 major national security risks associated with offshore wind projects, including interference with the PAVE PAWS radar and maritime safety risks.
  • The National Security Petition documents 4 ways in which offshore wind projects compromise national security, including radar interference, aviation safety hazards, and undersea surveillance and cybersecurity vulnerabilities.
  • 4 Native American tribes (Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head/Aquinnah, Shinnecock Nation, Narragansett Tribe, and Unkechaug Nation) argue that their sovereignty and legal rights were not considered in the planning of these projects.
  • The petitions ask the agencies to immediately suspend all activities for specified Atlantic projects pending a comprehensive, interagency defense and safety reassessment.

Statistics:

  • 6 unique national security risks associated with offshore wind projects are listed in the petition
  • 4 ways in which offshore wind projects compromise national security are detailed in the National Security Petition
  • 4 Native American tribes filed the petitions with the federal agencies

Sources:

  • "Green Oceans joins Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head/Aquinnah, Shinnecock Nation, Narragansett Tribe, Unkechaug Nation, and 11 other groups to challenge offshore wind projects" ([None] 2022)
  • Quattrocki Knight, L. Dr. (2022)