Offshore wind strengthens U.S. national security
by Kirk Lippold · The Washington TimesOPINION:
The conflict with Iran is a pointed reminder that energy security and national security are inseparable.
As the commanding officer of the USS Cole when it was attacked by al Qaeda during a brief stop for fuel in Aden, Yemen, in 2000, I realized the U.S. military needed additional energy options to avoid visiting dangerous ports of call.
The lessons from that attack are still relevant: The United States should not limit or eliminate any energy resource it has on the table, including offshore wind.
Deploying diverse energy sources at home preserves fuel for forward-deployed forces and enhances our strategic depth and flexibility.
With the Strait of Hormuz essentially closed, energy markets disrupted, geopolitical negotiations affecting energy access and availability unpredictable, creating access to multiple energy options bolsters economic strength and resilience.
Although the U.S. is fortunate to possess significant domestic oil reserves, global oil markets remain highly sensitive to conflict and instability. As tensions in the Middle East show, crude prices can quickly surge past $100 per barrel, sending shock waves throughout the global economy.
Expanding offshore wind helps cushion those shocks by diversifying the nation’s energy mix with a proven, large-scale power source that does not rely on volatile fossil fuel markets.
China’s own investment patterns proved this point when the conflict with Iran started. Beijing’s increasingly energy-diverse economy was essentially unaffected for several weeks, allowing China the margin to adjust to the new global energy market conditions.
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The U.S. should take heed.
Every megawatt generated through offshore wind helps conserve other resources and preserve the Strategic Petroleum Reserve for its intended purpose: responding to true national emergencies.
Some Trump administration officials continue to raise the specious concern that offshore wind facilities could interfere with military operations and exercises.
Yet extensive studies conducted by environmental regulators and the Defense Department have shown that the impacts are well understood and manageable, a conclusion several European countries have also confirmed.
One of the oldest principles of military training and readiness is to train the way you fight. Although some assert that offshore wind conflicts with military readiness, particularly regarding training, the opposite is true.
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Offshore wind farms provide a strategic benefit by allowing U.S. forces to train in operational environments that closely resemble those they might encounter in future conflicts, especially around China and off the coasts of Europe.
Offshore wind installations already dot the coastlines of numerous European nations and are rapidly expanding along China’s coastline.
For the U.S. military, particularly the Navy, learning how to operate effectively in these environments is increasingly important.
Whether defending NATO allies in Europe from Russian aggression or projecting power in the Indo-Pacific, American forces must be prepared to maneuver in maritime domains where offshore wind infrastructure is present. Learning how to develop and employ the tactics, techniques and procedures needed in this complex operating environment strengthens the readiness and combat effectiveness of deployed military forces.
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There are also important tactical advantages. Understanding how to project power near or within offshore wind facilities and defend those installations from potential attack provides invaluable experience for commanders.
Just as important, offshore wind farms are typically located in areas near busy maritime zones already filled with commercial activity. Merchant vessels, container ships and fishing fleets routinely sail through these waters. Training to understand maritime traffic patterns helps U.S. forces better understand the rhythms of civilian activity in complex coastal regions.
China’s coastal waters, for example, are crowded not only with naval assets but also with dense commercial shipping and extensive fishing fleets operating around ever-expanding offshore wind developments. Learning how to navigate, monitor and operate effectively in such environments is a critical component of modern naval strategy.
New military procedures in the air, surface and subsurface domains cannot be developed in theory alone. They are refined through challenging real-world training and operational experience. Offshore wind development along America’s coasts gives U.S. forces exactly that opportunity.
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At the end of the day, offshore wind enhances U.S. national security. Rather than viewing it as a constraint on military readiness, policymakers should recognize offshore wind for what it is: a strategic asset that strengthens America’s energy resilience and national security preparedness.
• U.S. Navy Cmdr. Kirk Lippold (retired) was the commanding officer of USS Cole during the al Qaeda terrorist attack in October 2000. He is a highly regarded national security analyst.