U.S. Ignorance Regarding Renewable Energy Blatantly Showcased in a Compelling Essay
In a significant shift in energy policy, the Trump administration has imposed restrictions on offshore wind energy development in the United States.
The administration's Order, issued on January 20, 2025, withdraws large areas within the Offshore Continental Shelf (OCS) from wind energy leasing and directs reviews of existing leases, while stopping federal agencies from issuing new or renewed approvals for wind projects [1][3]. This move effectively halts new offshore wind lease sales and blocks permitting processes for both offshore and onshore wind projects.
The impact of these policies is far-reaching. Delayed or canceled projects, layoffs within the wind industry, and slowed investment are just some of the consequences, particularly affecting regions such as the Northeast, which had aimed to diversify energy sources away from imported natural gas through offshore wind [2].
The Interior Department claims that the Order aims to identify policies biased in favor of wind and solar energy and halt support for energy supply chains controlled by foreign rivals [1]. However, the US offshore wind industry represents a significant domestic energy opportunity due to its long coastlines, energy-sucking coastal populations, and offshore infrastructure expertise [4].
The Trump administration's actions are aimed at throttling back on wind and solar energy development in the US. This is evident in the administration's plan to re-review established literature on the impact of wind turbines on migratory birds and the shutdown of the federal offshore lease program, which has negatively impacted the US wind industry [1][3].
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum announced a new Order on July 29, 2025, aimed at obstructing offshore and onshore wind energy projects subject to federal leases [5]. The Order is intended to end "special treatment for unreliable energy sources," such as wind, which is based on the outdated notion of a facility's ability to deliver a minimum floor of electricity on a 24/7 basis [6].
Despite these challenges, the US solar industry can continue with the rooftop solar market and utility-scale opportunities, as it is less dependent on federal permits [7]. However, the US wind industry is uniquely dependent on federal permits, particularly for offshore wind farms [7].
The Trump administration's policies contrast sharply with the rapid growth of renewable energy. For instance, the world installed a terawatt of solar power in 2022, with the second terawatt coming just two years later [2]. Bill McKibben, a climate activist and writer, published an essay on July 9, 2025, in The New Yorker, discussing the rapid growth of renewable energy [8].
In conclusion, offshore wind development in the U.S. has faced a significant rollback under the Trump administration, halting new project leasing and approval processes, imposing broad restrictions on wind energy expansion, and reversing prior growth momentum established under the Biden administration and earlier federal initiatives [1][2][3][4].
References: 1. Trump administration cancels plans to develop new offshore wind projects in federal waters 2. Trump's Offshore Wind Policy Threatens U.S. Progress on Renewable Energy 3. Trump administration cancels plans to develop new offshore wind projects in federal waters 4. Trump administration's offshore wind policy threatens U.S. progress on renewable energy 5. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum Announces Order to Obstruct Offshore and Onshore Wind Energy Projects 6. Trump administration's new Order aims to end "special treatment for unreliable energy sources" 7. The Trump administration's war on wind and solar energy 8. The New Yorker - Bill McKibben
- The administration's Order, issued on January 20, 2025, has imposed restrictions on offshore wind energy development and has directed reviews of existing leases, thus stopping federal agencies from issuing new or renewed approvals for wind projects.
- The Trump administration's policies have aimed to throttle back on wind and solar energy development in the US, as evident in the administration's plan to re-review established literature on the impact of wind turbines on migratory birds and the shutdown of the federal offshore lease program.
- Delayed or canceled projects, layoffs within the wind industry, and slowed investment are some of the consequences of the Trump administration's energy policies, particularly affecting regions such as the Northeast.
- The Interior Department claims that the Order aims to identify policies biased in favor of wind and solar energy and halt support for energy supply chains controlled by foreign rivals.
- Despite these challenges, the US solar industry can continue with the rooftop solar market and utility-scale opportunities, as it is less dependent on federal permits compared to the US wind industry.
- Bill McKibben, a climate activist and writer, published an essay on July 9, 2025, in The New Yorker, discussing the rapid growth of renewable energy in contrast to the rollback of offshore wind development in the US under the Trump administration.
- The US offshore wind industry represents a significant domestic energy opportunity due to its long coastlines, energy-sucking coastal populations, and offshore infrastructure expertise, but the Trump administration's actions have negatively impacted the industry.
- The world installed a terawatt of solar power in 2022, with the second terawatt coming just two years later, representing rapid growth in renewable energy that contrasts with the Trump administration's policies.
- The Trump administration's policies on offshore wind energy development have upended policy-and-legislation, environmental-science, finance, politics, general-news, and the renewable-energy industry, threatening climate-change mitigation efforts and potentially stymying progress in other areas of science and technology.
