Trump Administration Cancels Offshore Wind Plans Across Six States

The Trump administration has canceled plans to designate over 3.5 million acres of federal waters for new offshore wind energy development, effectively ending large-scale offshore wind lease sales across several U.S. coastal regions including Texas, Louisiana, Maine, New York, California, Oregon, and the central Atlantic. This move follows a series of executive orders aimed at reversing renewable energy initiatives and boosting oil, gas, and coal production, with the administration characterizing wind and solar energy as unreliable and foreign-controlled. While the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management clarified that existing lease areas, such as those off Humboldt County, remain unaffected, the decision halts future speculative wind development and increases scrutiny on new projects. Opponents of offshore wind, particularly in New Jersey and parts of the Gulf of Mexico, have welcomed the administration's actions, citing concerns about costs and reliability. Conversely, renewable energy advocates warn that the cancellation will hinder energy independence, increase electricity prices, reduce job growth, and threaten grid reliability. The administration's stance marks a significant shift from the prior Biden administration's five-year plan to expand offshore wind leasing and development.