Trump cancels new offshore wind projects, pushes fossil fuel agenda

U.S. President Donald Trump has officially cancelled plans to develop new offshore wind projects in federal waters, reinforcing his administration’s pivot from renewable energy to fossil fuels.

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management will revoke more than 3.5 million acres designated for offshore wind development near Texas, Louisiana, Maine, New York, California, Oregon, and the central Atlantic.

The agency announced on Wednesday that it will no longer reserve large areas for what it described as 'speculative wind development.' This marks a major reversal from the previous Biden-era plans, which had aimed to expand renewable energy through scheduled leases.

Since taking office in January, Trump has issued a series of executive orders boosting oil, gas, and coal production while dismantling climate-focused initiatives.

On Wednesday, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum declared an end to favorable policies for wind and solar, labeling them as unreliable and foreign-controlled. The department may also pull back federal lands with strong onshore wind potential to prioritize other land uses like recreation and grazing.

During a recent Scotland visit, Trump called wind turbines 'ugly monsters'  and urged UK leaders to prioritize oil and gas, while also dismissing wind energy as 'a con job' at a press conference with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

The administration’s stance has drawn sharp criticism from environmental advocates, who warn that such rollbacks worsen the climate crisis amid increasing global weather extremes.

Copied