Congressman Andy Harris, who represents Maryland’s 1st district in the U.S. Congress, delivered remarks on the House Floor warning that offshore wind projects near his district could compromise national security. Harris emphasized concerns about the proximity of these wind turbines to Washington, D.C., noting that the First District’s shoreline is closest to the capital.
Harris argued that large offshore wind turbines, which he said have been approved through a shortened permitting process, might disrupt America’s ability to detect threats from countries such as Russia and China. He stated that submarines operating off the U.S. coast could benefit if detection systems are hindered by these structures, potentially increasing vulnerability to attack.
He also referenced international precedent, pointing out that Sweden recently canceled offshore wind projects near Russia after defense officials determined that turbines would delay missile detection by one to two minutes—a time gap Harris described as dangerous during a crisis.
In his statement on the House Floor, Harris said:
“Time is not our enemy — Russia and China are our enemies. Russia has submarines that could come close to our coast, launch a weapon, and not be detected because we don’t know what the effect is of these windmills. The priority must be to protect the American people. National security cannot be sacrificed in pursuit of expensive, untested energy experiments that put both the Eastern Shore and the nation at risk.”
Harris has served in Congress since 2011 after replacing Frank Kratovil and previously served in Maryland’s state legislature for over a decade. Born in New York City in 1957, he currently resides in Cambridge and holds a BS from Johns Hopkins University.
For further information or media inquiries regarding Congressman Harris’s remarks, contact Anna Adamian at Anna.A@mail.house.gov.
