AT SEA - JULY 07: Wind turbines generate electricity at the Block Island Wind Farm on July 07, 2022 near Block Island, Rhode Island. The first commercial offshore wind farm in the United States is located 3.8 miles from Block Island, Rhode Island in the Atlantic Ocean. The five-turbine, 30 MW project was developed by Deepwater Wind and began operations in December, 2016 at a cost of nearly $300 million. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)
President Donald Trump signed an executive order on his first day in office that halted wind energy projects in federal lands and waters. One administration official said the president wants the wind projects “dead and gone.”
In response, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D) announced Monday that his state would stop approving new offshore wind projects, and oil and gas giant Shell walked away from a major project off the state’s coast.
A Shell spokesperson said that Shell would be walking away from the New Jersey offshore wind power project. However, its partner, EDF-RE Offshore Development, says it remains committed to working in the area.
New Jersey Board of Public Utilities announced on Monday that they would not award a bidder the opportunity for offshore development. Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind was the last remaining bidder after two recent withdrawals. It is a joint venture of Shell New Energies US LLC and EDF-RE Offshore Development LLC with three leases on the East Coast. BPU President Christine Guhl-Sadovoy said that it would be “irresponsible” to continue in light of recent executive orders and Shell backing out.
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“I support the [New Jersey Board of Public Utilities] decision on the fourth offshore wind solicitation, and I hope the Trump Administration will partner with New Jersey to lower costs for consumers, promote energy security, and create good-paying construction and manufacturing jobs,” Murphy said.
Wind makes up about 10% of the U.S. electricity mix, making it the largest single source of renewable energy. The Department of Energy reports that it has created over 100,000 American jobs.
New Jersey has set a goal of generating 100% of its energy from clean sources by 2035. New York has a goal of nine gigawatts of power from offshore wind by 2035—enough electricity to power nearly 1.7 million U.S. homes.
Trump’s order will reverse former President Joe Biden‘s progress in creating a green future that relies on wind energy. The Biden administration and Democratic lawmakers paved the way for wind companies with significant funding to fight the effects of climate change.
Off the coast of Virginia, construction for one of the most significant offshore projects has begun, and six more are set to start this year.
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