Trump Administration Targets Offshore Wind While Approving Onshore Projects

The Trump administration is pursuing a dual-track energy strategy, targeting offshore wind projects in the Atlantic while approving stalled onshore wind farms in the Midwest and Northeast. The U.S. Department of Justice filed a motion Tuesday requesting that a federal judge remand the permit for the New England Wind project off Massachusetts to the Interior Department, arguing the 2024 approval ignored major adverse impacts. This marks the fourth such effort in recent months, following similar moves against the SouthCoast Wind, Atlantic Shores, Revolution Wind, and Maryland Offshore Wind projects.

Simultaneously, the administration approved wind energy projects in Maine and South Dakota on Thursday after the Pentagon completed national security reviews. These reviews had been stalled since April, leading to an August court ruling that the delays were unlawful and cost states $47 billion. The White House claims these approvals remove all barriers for a bipartisan Senate permitting reform bill intended to accelerate energy and infrastructure construction.

Senator Sheldon Whitehouse has expressed skepticism regarding the administration's commitment to renewables, warning that the attacks on offshore wind risk derailing the September bipartisan deal. While the White House asserts it has fulfilled its promises to clear the way for the legislation, Democratic negotiators argue that further action on wind and solar is necessary before the Senate considers the bill after the November midterm elections.