Trump vows to target offshore wind if reelected, citing environmental concerns

Former President Donald Trump has said he will use an executive order to halt offshore wind projects if reelected. Speaking at a May 11 rally in New Jersey, the presumed Republican nominee cited environmental concerns related to offshore wind development and indicated he plans to take aim at the industry on "day one" of his potential presidency.

“They destroy everything, they’re horrible, the most expensive energy there is," Trump said. "They ruin the environment, they kill the birds, they kill the whales. We are going to make sure that that ends on day one. I’m going to write it out in an executive order.”

These remarks from Trump have raised concerns within the offshore wind industry, which already weathered significant challenges in 2023.

Rising materials costs and supply chain disruptions led to the postponement or cancellation of numerous offshore wind initiatives, hindering the sector's growth. Yet, even after the the difficulties seen a year ago, experts at S&P Global had still been anticipating an industry turnaround in 2024.

The inauguration of the first commercial-scale offshore wind farm in the U.S. earlier this year marked a milestone achievement, with more projects in development that could potentially power millions of additional homes.

However, Trump's renewed opposition to offshore wind projects has cast some uncertainty over the industry's future.

Energy analysts believe that even operational projects may face challenges should Trump return to the White House. One managing director of the Washington-based research firm ClearView Energy Partners said that "a Trump administration would be a negative for the offshore wind industry."

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