President-elect Donald Trump has expressed strong opposition to offshore wind [1], promising to halt these projects “on Day 1” of his term. This stance threatens the timelines set by eight states—Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina, Rhode Island, and Virginia—that have passed mandates to achieve specific offshore wind power targets.
Massachusetts state Sen. Jamie Eldridge, vice chair on the legislative Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, warned that this federal hostility could hinder states’ efforts to meet their emissions goals and energy needs.
Much of the East Coast states are relying on offshore wind projects to power millions of homes and transition to cleaner energy. Hence, for many East Coast states with limited land for onshore development, offshore wind in federal ocean waters is central to their clean energy plans.
State leaders remain committed to pursuing offshore wind but acknowledge potential delays during the next four years. Some states plan to continue building out electrical grids and ports to prepare for turbines, hoping to expedite offshore wind projects once the current administration ends. Others may consider additional onshore energy projects, such as wind and solar, to meet near-term climate goals.
Dylan McDowell, executive director with the National Caucus of Environmental Legislators, emphasized the need for states to explore alternative energy sources, including solar, onshore wind, and geothermal, to achieve their climate objectives.
Despite these challenges, several offshore wind projects are already underway, with more in various stages of permitting or awaiting lease auctions held by the federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management. Industry experts fear that the Trump administration could deny permits, cancel pending leases, and halt further auctions, potentially impacting the industry’s financing by denying clean energy tax credits.
In an extreme scenario, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management could retract permits issued under the Biden administration, further complicating the progress of offshore wind projects.
State leaders and environmental advocates continue to monitor the situation closely, hoping to find ways to navigate these political headwinds and advance their renewable energy goals.
Sources:
[1] Federal hostility could delay offshore wind projects, derailing state climate goals. https://www.renewableenergyworld.com/wind-power/offshore/federal-hostility-could-delay-offshore-wind-projects-derailing-state-climate-goals/
