President Donald Trump has stopped $679 million in federal funding meant for offshore wind projects. This is part of his ongoing push against renewable energy, which he calls a “scam.”
The decision affects 12 projects, including a big $427 million effort in California. Trump’s administration wants to cut regulations and promote fossil fuels instead.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy supported the move, saying the money could better revitalize America’s maritime industry. “Thanks to President Trump, we are prioritizing real infrastructure improvements over fantasy wind projects that cost much and offer little,” he claimed.
The funds, granted under former President Joe Biden, were aimed at boosting green energy. Among the affected is the Humboldt Bay project, set to be the first offshore wind terminal on the Pacific coast.
California Governor Gavin Newsom‘s spokesperson slammed the action as a blow to clean energy, business, and jobs.
Other cuts include $47 million for a hub near the Port of Baltimore and $48 million for a wind terminal near Staten Island, New York.
Massachusetts lost $33 million meant to redevelop a port for wind projects. Governor Maura Healey argued that cutting the Salem grant would cost 800 construction jobs, calling the cancellation a waste.
The Trump administration also unexpectedly stopped construction on a nearly finished wind farm off Rhode Island and Connecticut.
The Department of the Interior cited national security concerns but didn’t explain further. In early August, a major wind farm planned in Idaho, approved at the end of Biden’s presidency, was also canceled.
Several federal agencies, like the Departments of Defense and Energy, are now reviewing offshore wind projects set up by Biden along the Atlantic coast.
Trump frequently criticizes wind power, describing it as costly and ugly.
Global Embrace of Green Energy
Despite Trump’s dismissive tone, many countries are speeding up their transition to renewable energy to combat climate change. China, in particular, has invested heavily in solar and wind energy, becoming a top supplier of wind turbine parts.
Critics argue that Trump’s stance could make the US lag behind in the global energy race.
On Tuesday, during a cabinet meeting, Trump promised not to approve any new wind projects. “We’re not allowing any windmills to go up unless there’s a legal situation where somebody committed to it a long time ago,” he stated.
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