Hours into his second presidency, USA’s 47th President Donald Trump has signed a series of executive orders that significantly impact the renewable energy sector [1] in the United States. These orders mark a shift in energy policy, focusing on expanding fossil fuel production and rolling back previous climate initiatives.
Renewable energy companies have reacted with dismay after the President signed his wind energy executive order yesterday. Trump, who has made it clear he wants to increase drilling for oil and gas, has long been critical of offshore wind energy.
One of the key executive orders declares a national “energy emergency,” aimed at increasing domestic energy production and lowering costs for consumers. This includes halting the leasing of large wind farms and boosting oil and gas production. Trump has also moved to rescind several Biden-era policies, including the Justice 40 Initiative and aggressive federal procurement targets for electric vehicles and clean power.
Additionally, Trump has announced plans to revoke the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), a cornerstone piece of climate and economic legislation from the Biden administration. This order calls for an end to the “Green New Deal” and pauses the disbursement of funds administered through the IRA and related infrastructure and jobs legislation.
Liz Burdock, the CEO of an offshore energy experts consultancy firm – Oceantic Network said the wind energy executive order was “more than baffling.”
She commented on the new administration’s priorities on American-made energy: “Our country is in dire need of gigawatts of new power, yet the Trump administration issued an executive order pausing new offshore wind leasing and permitting, which would bring much-needed energy to American homes and businesses.”
Burdock added that “Offshore wind energy is good for the economy. It provides tens of billions to the federal government through leasing and annual payments from private developers. Stopping federal leasing and permitting will result in less energy, less income to pay our national deficit, and less funds to support tax cuts.”
Furthermore, Trump has temporarily halted offshore wind lease sales in federal waters and paused the issuance of approvals, permits, and loans for both onshore and offshore wind projects. The interior secretary will review wind leasing and permitting practices for federal waters and lands, considering the environmental impact of wind projects on wildlife, the economic costs associated with the intermittent generation of electricity, and the effect of subsidies on the viability of the wind industry.
These actions have sparked significant debate and concern among environmentalists and clean energy advocates, who argue that these moves could slow down the progress made in renewable energy and increase greenhouse gas emissions. The impact of these executive orders on the renewable energy sector and the broader energy landscape in the US remains to be seen.
The American Clean Power Association chief executive officer Jason Grumet said ACP “strongly opposes” blanket measures to halt or impede development of domestic wind energy on federal lands and waters. He stressed that this move is at odds with America’s nation’s character and national interests.
In assessing infrastructure projects, Trump has directed federal permitting agencies to scrap regulations and policies that factor in the “social cost” of greenhouse gases and carbon emissions.
The practice is “marked by logical deficiencies, a poor basis in empirical science, politicization, and the absence of a foundation in legislation,” Trump’s order reads.
Sources:
[1] Trump halts offshore wind leasing, permitting https://renews.biz/98273/trump-delivers-blow-to-wind-energy-industry/