Trump halts new offshore wind leases, calls wind farms ‘big, ugly windmills’

President Donald Trump has temporarily suspended new federal leases for offshore wind energy projects, citing concerns over costs, aesthetics, and wildlife impacts. 

The executive order mandates a comprehensive environmental and economic review of offshore wind development on the US outer continental shelf.

Trump criticized wind energy, stating, “They’re the most expensive form of energy by far. They kill birds and ruin beautiful landscapes.” However, the suspension does not affect existing offshore wind projects by companies such as Orsted, Avangrid, Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, and Dominion.

Industry groups have raised concerns over the decision, emphasizing its contradiction with Trump’s previous support for maximizing national energy production. Offshore wind advocate Hillary Bright argued, “A national energy emergency requires us to unleash all necessary sources of American energy – including offshore wind.”

This move contrasts sharply with former President Joe Biden’s administration, which championed offshore wind to decarbonize the power sector, holding multiple auctions to boost project development. Trump’s executive order aligns with broader efforts to enhance US oil and gas production and his announced plans to withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement.