Assistant Secretary of Interior Unprepared and Evasive Under Magaziner’s Questioning About Revolution Wind Stop-Work Order

WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Rep. Seth Magaziner (RI-02), a member of the House Natural Resources Committee, questioned Department of the Interior official Adam Suess about the Department's decision to issue a stop-work order for the Revolution Wind project. Suess serves as the Acting Assistant Secretary and the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management at the Department of the Interior, and oversees the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM.)

On August 22nd, BOEM issued a stop-work order to Ørsted for their Revolution Wind project off the coast of Rhode Island, throwing over a thousand union tradesmen and women's jobs into jeopardy. The project is 80 percent complete and set to deliver affordable, American-made energy to over 350,000 homes.

During the hearing, Rep. Magaziner questioned Suess on the rationale for the stop-work order and the impact on Rhode Islanders' energy costs and workers. Suess was unable to provide a clear explanation.

You can watch the full exchange between Magaziner and Trump Administration official, Suess, here.

Magaziner said during his remarks:

"I come from Rhode Island, where we have been hurting with high energy costs, high electricity costs in particular, for years. And relief is finally in sight because the Revolution Wind Project and offshore wind development is contracted to deliver more than a third of my state's electricity demand at well below the market rate, saving Rhode Islanders on their energy bills, lowering the cost of business for manufacturers while employing hundreds of American workers.

So why have you stopped this project? [...] It is unacceptable. It is hurting my constituents. It is hurting our country, and we need answers."