ATLANTIC CITY, NJ. — President Donald Trump is set to sign an executive order halting offshore wind energy projects, a move that underscores his administration’s energy priorities and reflects growing opposition along the Jersey Shore.
Trump is collaborating with Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-N.J.) to draft the order, targeting offshore wind development in New Jersey and beyond.
Congressman Van Drew announced that he has been working closely with President Trump to draft an executive order that would temporarily halt offshore wind turbine activities along the East Coast and lay the groundwork for permanent action. The proposed order is expected to be finalized within the first few months of the administration
“These offshore wind projects should have never been approved in the first place. The Biden administration rammed them through without proper oversight, transparent leases, or a full understanding of their devastating consequences,” said Congressman Van Drew. “They are an economic and environmental disaster waiting to happen. The administration’s reckless green agenda put politics over people, and that ends now. President Trump has been committed to stopping them, and together, we are taking action. This executive order is just the beginning. We will fight tooth and nail to prevent this offshore wind catastrophe from wreaking havoc on the hardworking people who call our coastal towns home.”
Trump has been a vocal critic of offshore wind farms, particularly in New Jersey, where local businesses and a majority of Jersey Shore residents have expressed concerns over the projects.
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy has championed offshore wind as a cornerstone of the state’s clean energy strategy, despite mounting challenges in the industry.
The state’s offshore wind sector suffered major setbacks after energy company Ørsted canceled two planned wind farms, and a South Jersey wind port, hailed as major energy hub by Governor Murphy, is now primarily used for dismantling and recycling wind turbine monopoles.
Last summer, Vineyard Wind, based in Nantucket, saw one of its turbines fail, littering the ocean and nearby shoreline with hazardous debris. That failure led to beach closures and concerns for boater safety for weeks after the incident. An investigation after the incident revealed that many more blades in that wind farm are at risk of failure and need to be replaced.
Trump’s decision follows the Biden administration’s moratoriums against offshore fossil fuel drilling and exploration along the U.S. East Coast.
Today, President Joe Biden took a swipe at Trump’s decision to stop offshore wind farms.
“I know many are skeptical about the need for clean energy. Some don’t believe climate change is real – they’re wrong,” Biden said. “The clean energy transition is already happening, and the United States must win. This will shape the future of the global economy and the planet.”
