Offshore Wind Farms Are Security Risks, Burgum Says
Watch on YouTube ↗  |  February 11, 2026 at 15:41 UTC  |  3:09  |  Bloomberg Markets
Speakers
Sec. Burgum — Secretary (Implied Energy/Interior/State Role)

Summary

  • The administration is actively dismantling the Offshore Wind industry, citing three factors: intermittency, high cost/subsidy dependence, and specifically "National Security" risks regarding radar/sonar interference.
  • A pivot is underway toward "dispatchable" (baseload) energy sources to support industrial growth and AI power demands, explicitly favoring domestic fossil fuels and nuclear over weather-dependent renewables.
  • The "National Security" argument (radar interference affecting autonomous drones/subs) is being used as a hard veto to stop projects, superseding economic arguments.
Trade Ideas
Ticker Direction Speaker Thesis Time
SHORT Doug Burgum
US Secretary of the Interior
Burgum states the administration is stopping subsidies for "intermittent weather-dependent, foreign-sourced" energy and explicitly cites a classified report that offshore wind creates "radar interference" and "sonar interference" which are "national security risks." The removal of subsidies destroys the unit economics of offshore wind, but the "National Security" designation is a kill-shot. It creates a regulatory hard-stop that prevents permits regardless of private funding. GE (major turbine manufacturer) and developers face project cancellations and stranded assets. Short/Avoid exposure to offshore wind equipment manufacturers and developers. Courts could overturn the administration's "stop work" orders, though Burgum explicitly states they will appeal and use classified info to win.
LONG Doug Burgum
US Secretary of the Interior
Burgum emphasizes "picking reliable, affordable nationally-secure sources" to meet the needs of "industry and what we need for AI," while rejecting "intermittent" sources. "Reliable" and "Nationally-secure" are code for domestic fossil fuels (Oil, Gas, Coal). If offshore wind (a major planned source of future capacity) is subtracted from the grid, the massive power demand from AI data centers must be met by dispatchable thermal energy. Long US Oil majors (XOM, CVX), E&Ps (DVN, CTRA), and Coal (BTU, CEIX) as the beneficiaries of the "baseload" pivot. A sudden breakthrough in battery storage technology making solar/onshore wind fully dispatchable.
ITA
LONG Doug Burgum
US Secretary of the Interior
Burgum justifies blocking wind farms because "warfare has changed... everything is autonomous." He specifically mentions the need for clear operating environments for "autonomous drones" and "autonomous submarines." The administration is prioritizing the operational capability of next-gen autonomous defense systems over energy infrastructure. This signals robust funding and strategic focus on the autonomous defense sector. Long Defense (ITA) as the primary beneficiary of this "security-first" industrial policy. Budget cuts in other areas of defense spending.
VRT
LONG Doug Burgum
US Secretary of the Interior
Burgum explicitly links energy policy to "what we need for AI." The administration acknowledges AI as a strategic national priority requiring massive power. By clearing "intermittent" obstacles and favoring baseload power, they are paving the way for faster data center energization. Vertiv (VRT) provides the critical power/cooling infrastructure that benefits from this reliable energy supply. Long AI Infrastructure. AI capex slowdown.