Trump Attempts to Cancel $35 Billion in Offshore Wind Projects

Donald Trump attempted to cancel five massive offshore wind projects along the U.S. East Coast, including an $11.5 billion farm in coastal Virginia, via an executive order issued on the first day of his second term. Trump characterized wind turbines as stupid and ugly and labeled clean energy initiatives the Green New Scam. His broader campaign against clean energy resulted in the cancellation of nearly $35 billion in U.S. projects last year and included a $1 billion payment to a French company to abandon U.S. offshore wind leases in favor of oil and gas.

Federal court rulings eventually put these projects back on track. The Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project, operated by Dominion Energy, has since begun delivering its first power to the grid and is expected to create 1,000 jobs.

The administration's policies created political friction for Republicans in coastal districts. Representative Jen Kiggans of Virginia and eight other House Republicans sent a letter to administration officials demanding that energy policy be based on facts and national interest. Despite this advocacy, Kiggans voted for legislation to gut clean energy tax credits. This contradiction drew criticism from Democratic opponent Elaine Luria, who argued that Kiggans' advocacy was ineffective and that her voting record made energy more expensive.