The Trump Administration’s War Against Offshore Wind Will Hike Bills and Risk Blackouts

The United States has an abundance of reliable offshore wind blowing off its coasts, enough to power the country five times over. Over the last few years, the United States has advanced offshore wind development, issuing leases across its three coasts and approving 11 projects capable of generating enough electricity for seven million homes. However, starting on Inauguration Day, President Trump halted all new leasing, permitting, and approvals for offshore wind energy, which stopped any new wind projects. Since then, attacks against offshore wind have escalated, with the president signing legislation to rapidly phase out and otherwise restrict access to tax incentives while rescinding funding for port redevelopment and transmission upgrades.   

Now the administration is interfering with approved projects in the Atlantic: Of the five projects under construction, two were ordered to immediately cease construction, with only vague justifications provided (one project has since been allowed to resume construction and the other was recently temporarily lifted by granting a preliminary injunction); one project had a necessary federal permit revoked; and the federal government has started a process to voluntarily remand the approval of three other projects. In total, the administration has interfered with just above 62 percent of approved offshore wind energy.   

Together, these actions jeopardize billions of dollars in private investment, thousands of good-paying jobs, and several gigawatts of clean electricity that grid operators and states are counting on to keep the lights on and meet clean energy mandates.  

At the same time, federal officials have engaged in false rhetoric, portraying offshore wind as unreliable and environmentally damaging and repeating unfounded claims about harm to whales without identifying any credible evidence to back up their statements. Indeed, federal agencies and independent scientists have found no causal link between offshore wind development and whale deaths. Collectively, these actions send a chilling signal to investors and developers that the federal government is hostile to business, undermining confidence across U.S. industries and discouraging the commitments needed to cut costs, expand supply chains, and grow the economy.  

The immediate consequences of these rollbacks harm consumers and grid reliability. With offshore wind sidelined—and increasing numbers of power-hungry data centers—the East Coast could be forced to lean more heavily on natural gas, exposing families to the same price spikes that have already driven up winter heating and electricity bills. Without the stable, long-term contracts that offshore wind projects would have provided, ratepayers are left at the mercy of volatile fossil fuel markets. 

One of the projects that was ordered to cease construction, Revolution Wind, was poised to deliver 704 megawatts of clean energy to Rhode Island and Connecticut next year. The stop order for Revolution Wind, which was recently overturned while an underlying lawsuit challenging it proceeds, will force Rhode Island and Connecticut consumers to rely on more expensive fossil fuels, driving electricity bills up by at least $500 million each year. And because offshore wind delivers power when demand is often high in the winter months, losing this supply weakens the grid and increases the risk of blackouts during extreme cold.  

Offshore wind remains the largest untapped clean energy resource, with the potential to deliver gigawatts of reliable power right where it’s needed most. Early returns are demonstrating the benefit of offshore wind: The South Fork Wind project off Long Island has exceeded production goals, reliably delivering power when needed most.  

Defending offshore wind will take a village, with a role for everyone, ranging from states and Congress to each and every one of us.  

A critical step is fighting back—in the courts and in Congress. Developers and states have already filed lawsuits challenging the administration’s stop work order and permitting and leasing ban, and the outcome of these cases will be critical in determining whether key projects can move forward. At the same time, Congress must act to restore the $679 million in rescinded offshore wind funding and protect future federal investments that are essential for building out the industry. Even where direct authority is limited, Congress can exert soft power through oversight hearings, public pressure, and funding priorities to push back against these cuts. 

Governors and state legislatures also have a central role. States must defend their clean energy solicitations and contracts, ensuring that planned projects are not abandoned. States can move forward with transmission projects that lay the groundwork for future offshore wind integration. They should also continue investing in ports and supply chain readiness to keep the region competitive and prepared and support research and technology development that improve the responsible deployment of offshore wind. Above all, offshore wind must remain a cornerstone of state energy strategies, even in the face of federal hostility. 

Finally, all of us can help educate our communities on the critical importance of offshore wind development to the health of our environment and our communities. In the face of anti–offshore wind rhetoric from the president and his administration, it is important to understand the facts and help maintain support so that offshore wind can proceed once federal roadblocks are relieved. 

Attacks on offshore wind aren’t just a clean energy setback; they are also direct hits to family budgets and our ability to keep the lights on as electricity demand soars. Organizations and individuals across sectors must join forces to raise the alarm that stopping offshore wind will result in higher bills, greater blackout risks, and stalled climate progress, all because of reckless federal hostility.