About this episode
Meghan Lapp is leading the charge to save the commercial fishing industry and bringing up a national security risk. How, you might ask, are offshore wind farms a huge problem? The Empire Wind Project, a controversial offshore wind farm near New York, has raised national security and environmental concerns due to its location near JFK flight paths, potential radar interference, and disruption of vital fishing grounds. Meghan Lapp, a fisheries expert, warns that the project—partly owned by Norway’s state was rushed through permitting without proper oversight, may obstruct air defense capabilities, and could endanger marine life and navigation. Despite a brief halt by the Trump administration, the project resumed amid speculation of a pipeline deal, drawing scrutiny over regulatory failures and political motivations. Highlights of the Podcast 00:00 – Introduction 03:13 – Empire Wind Project Controversy 05:28 – Alleged Pipeline Deal & Foreign Ownership 08:15 – Radar Interference and JFK Airport Risks 11:19 – DOD and FAA Inter-agency Failures 14:24 – Deceptive Status Claims and Construction Reality 17:09 – Maritime Safety and Historic Collisions 20:01 – Tower Size and Ecological Blind Spots 23:26 – Vineyard Wind and Tax Loopholes 27:17 – Falsified Safety Data and National Security Concerns 30:44 – Trump Admin Review and Industry Hope 33:58 – Structural Governance Problems 36:41 – Disparity in Regulation Between Oil/Gas and Wind 39:20 – Microplastics and Blade Deterioration 42:05 – Reclamation Costs and Industry Burden 44:13 – Final Plea for Government Attention 46:36 – Conclusion and Call to Action