On Monday, President Donald Trump enacted an executive order that momentarily suspends offshore wind lease sales and pauses the approval processes, permits, and loans for onshore and offshore wind initiatives.
This directive mandates a review of wind leasing and permitting practices on federal lands and waters by the interior secretary. The evaluation will address the environmental consequences of wind projects on wildlife, the economic implications related to electricity generation variability, and the influence of subsidies on the wind sector’s sustainability.
Trump has advocated for an increase in oil and gas drilling while showing opposition towards renewable energy sources like offshore wind. During his confirmation hearing, Doug Burgum, nominated for the position of interior secretary, was questioned about his commitment to ongoing offshore wind leases. Burgum responded by confirming that projects deemed sensible and already authorized by law would proceed.
Currently, wind energy accounts for around 10% of the electricity produced in the United States, positioning it as the largest renewable energy source in the country. According to the American Clean Power Association, there are approximately 73 gigawatts of offshore wind capacity in development across the U.S., sufficient to supply energy for 30 million homes.
The executive order additionally imposes a temporary halt on Magic Valley Energy’s progress on the Lava Ridge Wind Project in Idaho. A scaled-down version of the wind farm had received federal approval in December despite local pushback, which included concerns over its location near a site associated with the incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II.
On the campaign trail, Trump pledged to dismantle the offshore wind sector upon his return to the presidency, asserting that he aims to increase fossil fuel production, such as oil, natural gas, and coal, which are linked to climate change, in pursuit of making U.S. energy and electricity the most affordable globally.
It remains uncertain how much power Trump holds to obstruct wind projects that already possess federal permits. The order is likely to face legal challenges, similar to an executive measure enacted by President Joe Biden in early 2021 that suspended new oil and gas lease sales, which was also contested.
Following his election victory, Trump assigned Republican Rep. Jeff Van Drew, a staunch opponent of offshore wind, with the task of drafting an executive order regarding offshore wind early in his term. Van Drew claims to have quickly forwarded the draft to Burgum, viewing the executive order as an initial move toward an eventual ban on offshore wind development.
By extending the order to include onshore wind projects, this directive is markedly more extensive than Van Drew’s original proposition. Trump has characterized wind turbines as ineffective, reliant on subsidies, and “many, many times” costlier than natural gas.
Projected costs for new offshore wind generation are anticipated to reach roughly $100 per megawatt-hour for projects connecting to the grid in 2028, based on estimates from the Energy Information Administration. This figure accounts for tax credits available under the Inflation Reduction Act, which aims to lower the cost of renewable technologies. Conversely, onshore wind is seen as a much cheaper option, costing about $31 on average for new initiatives.
New natural gas plants are set to generate electricity at an estimated cost of nearly $43 per megawatt-hour. The EIA highlighted the importance of factoring in grid reliability, noting that natural gas plants can operate consistently throughout the day, unlike intermittent sources such as solar and wind.
Robin Shaffer, president of Protect Our Coast NJ — a group actively opposing offshore wind development on the East Coast — remarked that the new executive order represents merely the initial step towards moving the U.S. away from offshore wind, which she regards as a “harmful technology,” and toward more promising sustainable energy alternatives.
Conversely, Kit Kennedy, managing director for power at the Natural Resources Defense Council, criticized the Trump administration for prioritizing fossil fuels while hindering progress in renewable energy projects. She contended that such actions not only jeopardize clean air and public health but also diminish a potentially valuable energy source at a critical time for the nation’s grid.
The Biden administration previously aimed to intensify offshore wind initiatives as a response to climate change, establishing national targets for offshore wind energy deployment, organizing lease sales, and sanctioning nearly a dozen substantial commercial-scale offshore wind projects. March saw the opening of the nation’s first commercial-scale offshore wind farm, the South Fork Wind, featuring 12 turbines situated 35 miles (56 kilometers) off Montauk Point, New York.
