Former President Donald Trump made a clear promise during the 2024 campaign: to halt the massive offshore wind projects that have been a cornerstone of President Biden’s energy and climate policy. These projects, some involving turbines over a thousand feet tall, have drawn significant opposition due to their environmental impact and hefty government subsidies. Trump’s recent actions, including a January 20 executive order to pause new leases and permits for offshore wind, mark a strong start in fulfilling that promise. The suspension of projects off the New Jersey coast this month further underscores the effectiveness of his administration’s efforts.
However, the battle is far from over, as Biden’s administration may still claim victory. In the final months of his term, federal agencies fast-tracked approvals for hundreds of additional turbines off the U.S. coasts. These turbines, slated for construction in pristine coastal waters, continue to progress despite the opposition. Trump now faces the task of reversing these approvals.
This is a crucial moment. Derailing these projects would not only help protect the coastal marine ecosystem from disruption but also save American taxpayers billions of dollars. Additionally, halting the expansion of these offshore wind farms could prevent the inflationary costs associated with subsidizing the expensive, government-backed wind power, ultimately protecting electricity consumers from rising prices.
Trump’s ability to act decisively on this issue could redefine the future of America’s energy policy and the integrity of its coastlines. He doesn’t have to inherit the wind — he can stop it before it begins.
Former President Donald Trump made a campaign promise in 2024 that reverberated with many conservatives and environmentalists alike: he would block the Biden administration’s ambitious plans for offshore wind energy projects. These plans, which include hundreds of towering wind turbines stretching across coastal waters, have become symbols of President Biden’s energy and climate agenda. However, these massive, government-subsidized turbines have also drawn considerable opposition due to their environmental impact, cost burdens, and the rapid pace at which the Biden administration pushed them through in the final months of its term.
Trump’s early actions since taking office in 2025 indicate that he intends to make good on this promise. One of his first executive orders, issued on January 20, was a move to pause new leases and permits for offshore wind projects. This was an important first step in halting what critics argue is an overzealous expansion of the offshore wind industry, which could have long-term consequences for the environment, taxpayers, and consumers alike.
A Solid Start: Pausing New Leases and Permits
The executive order signed by Trump immediately paused the approval process for new offshore wind leases and permits. This move came after increasing public concern about the impact of wind farms on coastal marine ecosystems, including disruptions to local wildlife populations, such as migratory birds and marine mammals. The looming presence of these giant turbines also threatens to obstruct natural views and undermine local economies dependent on tourism and fishing.
The move was welcomed by many environmental groups who had long been concerned about the speed with which the Biden administration pushed offshore wind projects through federal agencies. Several of these projects were approved without sufficient time for thorough environmental assessments, raising alarms over potential harm to marine life, fisheries, and the delicate balance of ecosystems in coastal regions.
The suspension of the offshore wind projects, including those slated for construction off the New Jersey coast, signals that Trump’s administration is not willing to simply inherit the “wind” from his predecessor, but instead is taking a firm stance against what he perceives as a flawed policy direction.
Biden’s Rush to Approve Offshore Wind Projects
Despite Trump’s immediate actions, the Biden administration may still emerge victorious in the long term. During the final months of his presidency, Biden’s administration worked swiftly to approve a series of permits for offshore wind projects. This was part of Biden’s broader agenda to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 and accelerate the transition to renewable energy. In a bid to make the U.S. a global leader in offshore wind power, federal agencies quickly greenlit the construction of massive wind farms in coastal waters, including areas off the coasts of New Jersey, Massachusetts, and California.
The approval of these projects not only marked a significant step in the Biden administration’s climate agenda but also indicated that federal agencies were actively trying to lock in progress on renewable energy projects before Trump’s return to office. Many of the turbines approved under Biden’s watch are expected to span thousands of acres and rise over a thousand feet above the ocean.
While supporters of offshore wind argue that these projects are essential for reducing carbon emissions and combating climate change, critics contend that they come at a high cost to both the environment and taxpayers. The construction of these massive wind farms requires billions of dollars in subsidies and taxpayer-backed investments, and the cost of maintaining and running these facilities is expected to be passed on to consumers in the form of higher electricity bills.
Environmental and Economic Concerns
The primary argument against the aggressive expansion of offshore wind projects is the environmental and financial burden they impose. While wind energy is lauded as a cleaner alternative to fossil fuels, offshore wind farms present unique challenges. The installation of large turbines in ocean waters could disrupt the natural habitats of marine species, particularly migratory birds and fish populations that depend on the health of coastal ecosystems.