The Trump administration has initiated a significant reversal of federal energy policy, revoking vast expanses of ocean previously designated for offshore wind energy development.
This decisive action, announced by the Interior Department’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), specifically targets millions of acres within the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf.
These rescinded areas were originally earmarked for accelerated offshore wind projects under the Obama administration, with further expansion occurring during the Biden presidency, underscoring a sharp departure from previous administrations’ renewable energy efforts.
The directive impacts over 3.5 million acres of federal waters, spanning critical regions including the Gulf of America, Gulf of Maine, the New York Bight, and coastal areas off California, Oregon, and the Central Atlantic.
This move follows earlier signals from the Interior Department, which indicated a comprehensive review of all wind development on federal lands and waters, driven by concerns articulated by former President Donald Trump regarding the reliability of wind as an energy source.
The administration’s renewed focus on curtailing wind power initiatives has already manifested in tangible market shifts; BloombergNEF’s projections for new offshore wind developments have reportedly plummeted by 56% since Trump’s re-election.
Adding to the pressure, a conservative research institute based in Texas has actively lobbied the Trump administration to withdraw approval for a particular wind farm located off the coast of Massachusetts, notably the first such project greenlit during the Biden administration in 2021.
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