The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) announced Wednesday that it is rescinding all designated Wind Energy Areas (WEAs) on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), effectively ending plans for large-scale offshore wind development in federal waters.
The decision, made in accordance with Secretary’s Order 3437 and the Presidential Memorandum of January 20, 2025, temporarily withdraws all areas on the OCS from offshore wind leasing and mandates a review of federal leasing and permitting practices for wind projects.
WEAs, which spanned more than 3.5 million acres and were deemed most suitable for wind energy development, included zones in the Gulf of Maine, New York Bight, California, Oregon, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Central Atlantic. This includes the Morro Bay Wind Energy Area, located approximately 20 miles offshore the central California coastline.
A Shift Toward Fossil Fuels
The move aligns with broader energy policy changes under the Trump administration, which has pushed for increased oil, gas, and coal production while scaling back renewable energy initiatives. President Trump has been a vocal critic of wind energy, often relying on misleading claims to make his case against its adoption, reports AP News.
“This action ends the federal practice of designating large areas for speculative wind development,” BOEM stated in its announcement.
Offshore wind lease sales had been anticipated off the coasts of Maine, California, Texas, Oregon, and other regions, building on progress made under the Biden administration and previous commitments to a five-year schedule for offshore wind leasing.
Backlash from Conservationists and Officials
Environmental groups, state lawmakers, and industry advocates reacted swiftly to condemn the decision. Xavier Boatright of the Sierra Club criticized the administration’s “relentless obstruction of wind energy,” calling for continued advocacy for clean energy investments.
“No matter how much they want to bolster their buddies in the dirty fossil fuel industry, we will continue to push for the cleaner, healthier, and greener future we deserve,” Boatright said in a statement.
U.S. Representative Salud Carbajal representing the Central Coast also voiced sharp opposition, emphasizing the importance of renewable energy and its role in supporting American jobs.
“This is another backwards policy decision by the Trump administration that will hurt our wind energy sector and the thousands of jobs it supports,” said Carbajal. “Undermining renewables not only hurts American workers and businesses, it hands the future of clean energy to global competitors like China. This is an America Last policy approach.”
Wind Energy’s Role in the U.S.
The decision comes after a series of administrative actions under Trump aimed at pausing offshore wind projects, including temporary halts on leasing, permitting, and approvals. While the nation’s first commercial-scale offshore wind farm, South Fork Wind, began operations last year east of Montauk Point, New York, the future of such projects now hangs in limbo.
Attorneys general from 17 states and the District of Columbia have filed lawsuits challenging key executive actions obstructing wind energy development. Meanwhile, critics see BOEM’s rescinding of WEAs as another step in the administration’s prioritization of fossil fuels at the expense of renewable energy progress, AP News states.
Advocates for wind energy argue that reversing course damages the U.S. economy, energy security, and climate goals, while ceding leadership on clean energy innovation to global competitors.
The implications of this policy shift are expected to unfold in the coming months as legal challenges, legislative efforts, and public pressure build around the future of offshore wind power in America.
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Stupidity reigns.
Offshore oil operations have and will kill many times more sea life than offshore wind. Fact.
https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/new-england-mid-atlantic/marine-life-distress/frequent-questions-offshore-wind-and-whales
https://response.restoration.noaa.gov/oil-and-chemical-spills/oil-spills/how-oil-harms-animals-and-plants-marine-environments.html
It’s simple. Those who are supported by oil & gas billionaires will always have the incentive to lie to you. Stop swallowing the bs.
Nuclear will rule!
Some gullible fool will probably now spout about nuclear power and “new reactor technology” like molten salt.
Sorry, but it’s still too expensive, too slow to come online, and too dangerous:
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/u-s-nuclear-energy-policy-could-accelerate-weapons-proliferation/
Nuclear power contributes about 10% of the world’s electricity.
Over 440 nuclear reactors are operational worldwide, with more under construction.
So?
You’re saying we should do even more stupid things?
Trump’s bizarre ideas about wind energy -based on nothing more petty than a lawsuit he lost in Scotland many years ago- are held only by him and a select few of his most obsequious milksop sycophants. There isn’t a single logical argument in anything he says about it, nothing but lies, ridiculous exaggerations, and misconceptions about basic science.
This whole administration is just dragging us backwards towards a thoroughly dying and decrepit oil industry that has one of the most heinous legacies of death, destruction and corruption the modern world has ever seen, just to make some absurd claims about wind turbines harming wildlife. Yeah right like Donald Trump cares anything about birds! Meanwhile it’s “drill baby drill” and let’s start tearing up the seafloor for minerals!
HOO-RAY….!!!!!!!!
Another endorsement for idiocy.
We’re so screwed it’s hard at times to do more than laugh maniacally in our powerlessness and at the administration’s stupidity as rump rescinds the endangerment finding.
https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-releases-proposal-rescind-obama-era-endangerment-finding-regulations-paved-way
https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/trumps-epa-targets-key-health-ruling-underpinning-all-us-greenhouse-gas-rules-2025-07-29/
Yeah!!
ooPS – Why do you and COAST prefer dirty energy production that kills far more animals and causes permanent and widespread ecological and environmental damage to our planet or clean energy that kills far less animals and doesn’t do that kind of damage?
Honest question.
You seem to think that they think. Think again.
burying windmill blades in Wyoming is better??
https://www.cnn.com/2023/05/28/world/wind-turbine-recycling-climate-intl
Ops – you should really read the articles you think support your “argument,” even if just the headline:
“New technologies may be a step closer to solving it”
Aside from being over 2 years old, this article supports what I and others have been saying here for years: the tech is rapidly advancing and at this point, turbine blades themselves are almost 100% recyclable.
Here, from the article YOU POSTED 🤣:
“It’s a problem that’s vexed the wind energy industry and provided fodder for those who seek to discredit wind power.
But in February, Danish wind company Vestas said it had cracked the problem.
It announced a “breakthrough solution” that would allow wind turbine blades to be recycled without needing to change their design or materials.”
OK…. next.
“maybe a step closer” – doesn’t mean its in production yet! Doesn’t help all the wind mills already out there in production & deteriorating. The blades are not recyclable which is why they bury them- read the article!!
Blades are currently being recycled, but that doesn’t fit the oily narrative.
OpS – the article is over 2 years old. I am pretty familiar with this industry and know what I’m talking about. I’m not arguing with someone who refuses to accept the facts they themselves posted.
Here, read some more about why you’re “argument” holds no water:
https://www.nrel.gov/news/detail/press/2024/nrel-advances-method-for-recyclable-wind-turbine-blades
https://www.nationalgrid.com/stories/energy-explained/can-wind-turbine-blades-be-recycled
Next.
Unsightly wind farms that kill birds and now they are discovering sea life. Unsightly and vast is what comes to mind when you go by Banning Pass.
You oily cons always ignore the massive damages and subsidies of the petroleum idustry to disparage smarter alternatives. Why is that? Lack of oxygen?
ANON – why would you prefer oil rigs that constantly leak human waste and other pollutants even when running at top efficiency? Even a minor oil leak kills thousands of organisms, if not millions.
Are oil rigs more “sightly” than wind turbines to you? That’s really more of an aesthetic preference I think. Personally, those wind turbines look graceful and clean to me, exemplifying human progress, not filth.
What fraction of your life do you spend at Banning Pass?
The arguments from you oily cons are so transparently dishonest and stupid.