 |
|
|
|||||
The Trump administration on Monday suspended leases for five large-scale offshore wind projects under construction along the East Coast due to what it said were national security risks identified by the Pentagon. The suspension, effective immediately, is the latest step the administration has taken to hobble offshore wind in its push against renewable energy sources. It comes two weeks after a federal judge struck down President Donald Trumps executive order blocking wind energy projects, calling it unlawful. The administration said the pause will give the Interior Department, which oversees offshore wind, time to work with the Defense Department and other agencies to assess the possible ways to mitigate any security risks posed by the projects. The statement did not detail the national security risks. It called the move a pause, but did not specify an end date. The prime duty of the United States government is to protect the American people, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said in a statement. Todays action addresses emerging national security risks, including the rapid evolution of the relevant adversary technologies, and the vulnerabilities created by large-scale offshore wind projects with proximity near our east coast population centers. Wind proponents slammed the move, saying it was another blow in an ongoing attack by the administration against clean energy. The administrations decision to cite potential national security risks could complicate legal challenges to the move, although wind supporters say those arguments are overstated. Projects paused over national security concerns The administration said leases are paused for the Vineyard Wind project under construction in Massachusetts, Revolution Wind in Rhode Island and Connecticut, Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind, and two projects in New York: Sunrise Wind and Empire Wind. The Interior Department said unclassified reports from the U.S. government have long found that the movement of massive turbine blades and the highly reflective towers create radar interference called clutter. The clutter caused by offshore wind projects obscures legitimate moving targets and generates false targets in the vicinity of wind projects, the Interior Department said. National security expert and former Commander of the USS Cole Kirk Lippold disputed the administrations national security argument. The offshore projects were awarded permits following years of review by state and federal agencies, including the Coast Guard, the Naval Undersea Warfare Center, the Air Force and more, he said. The record of decisions all show that the Department of Defense was consulted at every stage of the permitting process, Lippold said, arguing that the projects would benefit national security because they would diversify the country’s energy supply. A judge ruled blocking wind projects was unlawful The administration’s action comes two weeks after a federal judge struck down Trumps executive order blocking wind energy projects, saying the effort to halt virtually all leasing of wind farms on federal lands and waters was arbitrary and capricious and violates U.S. law. Judge Patti Saris of the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts vacated Trumps Jan. 20 executive order blocking wind energy projects and declared it unlawful. Saris ruled in favor of a coalition of state attorneys general from 17 states and Washington, D.C., led by New York Attorney General Letitia James, that challenged Trumps Day One order that paused leasing and permitting for wind energy projects. Trump has been hostile to renewable energy, particularly offshore wind, and prioritizes fossil fuels to produce electricity. Wind proponents slam the move Wind supporters called the administration’s actions illegal and said offshore wind provides some of the most affordable, reliable electric power to the grid. For nearly a year, the Trump administration has recklessly obstructed the build-out of clean, affordable power for millions of Americans, just as the countrys need for electricity is surging, said Ted Kelly of the Environmental Defense Fund. Now the administration is again illegally blocking clean, affordable energy,” Kelly said. We should not be kneecapping Americas largest source of renewable power, especially when we need more cheap, homegrown electricity.” The administration’s actions are especially egregious because, at the same time, it is propping up aging, expensive coal plants “that barely work and pollute our air, Kelly said. Connecticut Attorney General William Tong called the lease suspension a lawless and erratic stop-work order that revives an earlier failed attempt to halt construction of Revolution Wind. The wind project has been vetted and approved through every layer of federal and state regulatory process, including a careful review of security issues raised in the latest announcement, he said. Every day this project is stalled is another day of lost work, another day of unaffordable energy costs, and other day burning fossil fuels when American-made clean energy is within reach,” Tong said. We are evaluating all legal options, and this will be stopped just like last time. Suspension is praised by anti-wind group A New Jersey group that opposes offshore wind hailed the administration’s actions. Today, the president and his administration put America first,” said Robin Shaffer, president of Protect Our Coast New Jersey, a nonprofit advocacy group. Placing largely foreign-owned wind turbines along our coastlines was never acceptable,” he said, arguing that the projects posed serious national security risks. But the Conservation Law Foundation, a Boston-based environmental group, called the pause “a desperate rerun of the Trump administrations failed attempt to kill offshore wind,” noting that courts have already rejected the administration’s arguments. “Trying again to halt these projects tramples on the rule of law, threatens jobs and deliberately sabotages a critical industry that strengthens not weakens Americas energy security, said Kate Sinding Daly, senior vice president for law and policy at the law foundation. Matthew Daly, Associated Press Associated Press writer Jennifer McDermott contributed to this report.
Category:
E-Commerce
Over the weekend, rapper Nicki Minaj made a surprise appearance at Turning Point USAs AmericaFest convention, where she praised President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance, mocked California Governor Gavin Newsom, and instructed listeners, If you are born a boy, be a boy. On TikTok, her queer fans appear to be overwhelmingly disappointed. The event was hosted by Erika Kirk, the widow of slain conservative pundit Charlie Kirk, who now serves as the CEO of the conservative nonprofit Turning Point USA. Kirk took the stage with Minaj, where the two discussed Minajs recent alignment with the MAGA movement. During the talk, Minaj called Trump and Vance role models for young men. For Minaj, the appearance was an official confirmation of a political stance that shes been hinting at on social media for several months. Back in 2020, the rapper said that she was not gonna jump on the Donald Trump bandwagon. This November, she signaled otherwise by reposting an official White House TikTok celebrating the administrations supposed successes, including the claim Our cities are safer than ever, which appears to be a reference to the administration deploying the National Guard and ICE officers to multiple major cities, as well as the anti-trans sentiment, No men in womens sports. Now, Minajs queer listernerswho have always represented a large portion of her fanbaseare expressing feelings of betrayal on TikTok. Nicki Minaj’s queer fans speak out In past years, Minaj positioned herself as an ally to the LGBTQ+ community, offering words of encouragement to her gay fans and, at one point, describing herself as bisexual. By aligning with MAGA, repeatedly promoting anti-trans rhetoric, and working with Turning Point USA (which has an extensive track record of anti-LGBTQ+ animus), she appears to be alienating some of her most dedicated supporters. One of the most-viewed clips from Minajs appearance is a TikTok with nearly 300,000 likes in which the rapper states, If you are born a boy, be a boy, adding, boys will be boys, and theres nothing wrong with thatapparently discouraging trans women from transitioning. The comments are flooded with negative comments from disappointed fans. She built her career from the queer community, one user wrote. Literally almost half her fandom is part of the LGBTQ community, another added. A number of commenters noted Minajs guest appearance on season 12 of RuPauls Drag Race as further evidence of her shifting support. Others have shared that they plan to revoke support for the rapper after the recent appearance with Kirk. In one TikTok with nearly 50,000 likes, an old clip of Minaj championing her gay fans is overlaid with the caption, I miss the old Nicki who actually cared about the LGBTQ community. R.I.P. 1982-2019 Nicki, you wouldve hated 2025 MAGA Nicki.
Category:
E-Commerce
Elusive street artist Banksy appeared to confirm Monday that a new mural in London, depicting two children lying down and pointing up at the sky, is his latest work. The artist posted two photos of the artwork on his official Instagram account Monday, hours after its appearance on a wall on the side of a building in Bayswater, west London sparked speculation over whether Banksy was behind it. The black and white mural, painted above a garage, depicts two figures dressed in winter hats and boots lying on the ground, with one of them pointing a finger upwards. An identical image appeared at the foot of a tower in central London on Monday, but the graffiti artist did not post that version on his account. Banksy began his career spray-painting buildings in Bristol, England, and has become one of the worlds best-known artists. His paintings and installations sell for millions of dollars at auction and have drawn thieves and vandals. While his work is often critical of government policy on migration and war, the latest artwork did not seem to carry an overt political message. In September, he made headlines with a mural showing a judge holding a gavel looming over an unarmed protester holding a blood-splattered placard. That piece, which appeared on an external wall of a Royal Courts of Justice building, was swiftly covered up and authorities said it had to be removed out of consideration of the building’s historical significance.
Category:
E-Commerce
All news |
||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||