President-elect Donald Trump has enlisted the help of a congressman from New Jersey who has been openly critical of offshore wind initiatives to draft an executive order for him to issue, aimed at halting wind energy projects.
This decision comes in light of the growing importance of offshore wind energy in the quest for a carbon-neutral electric grid. Currently, the power sector contributes nearly one-third of the greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global warming. During his campaign, Trump promised to eliminate the offshore wind sector upon his return to the White House, advocating for an increase in fossil fuel production like oil, natural gas, and coal. He asserts that such measures would lead to the cheapest energy and electricity supplies for the nation.
Republican Representative Jeff Van Drew reported a conversation with Trump about a month ago, where he pressed for action on this campaign promise. “I said, ‘Mr. President, we need to move on this,’ to which he responded, ‘Yes, we definitely do. I agree. I’m against them.’ So, he instructed me, ‘Write an executive order, get it to my people,’” Van Drew shared.
Shortly after, Van Drew sent a draft of the executive order to Doug Burgum, who is Trump’s nominee for the position of interior secretary. This draft proposes a six-month freeze on offshore wind development along the eastern seaboard, from Rhode Island to Virginia. The goal of this pause would be to allow the new interior secretary time to assess the issuance of leases and permits. Van Drew expressed concerns that the current approvals did not adequately consider the ramifications on the fishing industry, tourism, whale populations, and the financial impact on American utility bills. He also criticized the reliance on foreign companies to construct these wind farms.
The Interior Department oversees offshore renewable energy project management through the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management. During a Senate confirmation hearing on Thursday, Burgum faced questions about these issues. Senator Angus King, an independent from Maine, highlighted Burgum’s background from North Dakota, a state that relies on wind turbines for over a third of its electricity supply. King challenged Burgum to persuade Trump that wind energy has its advantages.
In response, Burgum acknowledged the need for a reliable electric grid that can deliver continuous power. He elaborated that intermittent sources like solar and wind do not always guarantee consistent energy supply. When pressured by King to commit to the continuation of existing offshore wind leases, Burgum stated, “I’m not familiar with every project that the interior has underway, but I’ll certainly be taking a look at all of those. If they make sense and are already established by law, then they’ll continue.” He pointed out that Trump has expressed concern over the substantial tax incentives allocated to certain energy types.
Van Drew refrained from sharing the executive order draft, explaining that he does not expect Trump to adopt it verbatim; instead, it serves as a framework. He anticipates that Trump will sign an order regarding offshore wind projects within the first quarter of the year, potentially as soon as the first day of his administration. Van Drew sees this action as a preliminary step towards an eventual moratorium on offshore wind development.
Trump has previously voiced strong opposition to wind turbines, labeling them as inefficient and costly, and perpetuating claims that offshore wind projects could endanger whale populations. His team recently shared a transcript of a press conference where he reiterated the intention to create a policy that prohibits the construction of windmills.
In contrast, the Biden administration has made considerable efforts to advance the fledgling U.S. offshore wind industry with an aim to combat climate change, which they view as a critical emergency. The administration has set goals to achieve 30 gigawatts of offshore wind energy deployment by the year 2030, enough to power more than 10 million households, and an additional 15 gigawatts from floating wind sites by 2035, enough for an additional 5 million homes.
The first commercial-scale offshore wind farm, named South Fork Wind, commenced operations in March, featuring 12 turbines located 35 miles east of Montauk Point, New York. The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management has initiated its first lease sales in the West Coast and Gulf of Mexico, as well as the first commercial sale for floating offshore wind on the Atlantic Coast. In December, they approved the nation’s 11th commercial offshore wind energy project. Together, these projects are set to generate over 19 gigawatts of clean energy, sufficient to supply more than 6 million homes.
