By: Chas Lundy
There is no disputing the fact that fossil fuels have been pivotal in the development of industrialization across the world over the past three-hundred years.[i] However, following the oil crisis of the 1970s, the United States federal government, as well as state governments on their own, began to seek alternatives to coal, natural gas, and oil to supplement America’s energy demands.[ii] As time went on, the federal and state governments implemented programs to incentivize the use of renewable energy, and require the use of renewables in particular circumstances.[iii] The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported that, as of 2023, roughly 21% of America was powered by renewable energy sources.[iv]
Among the various renewable energy sources, wind power reigns supreme, with that same EIA report for 2023 stating that 10.2% of America was powered through wind energy.[v] A majority of wind farms in America are located in the center of the country, however, experts have identified the waters off the coasts of the country as a desirable location for them as well.[vi] By the end of 2023, America had two operating offshore wind farms: Rhode Island’s Block Island Wind Farm and the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project; however, the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management and multiple state agencies have since executed leases to expand and create new offshore wind farms.[vii] Environmental experts have cited a shift from fossil fuels to offshore wind farms as a pivotal way to reduce carbon pollution and protect ocean ecosystems while still meeting the nation’s energy demands.[viii]
Despite the endorsement from environmental groups, the Trump administration is seeking to end America’s foray into offshore wind energy.[ix] Trump is on record stating his views that windmills are “ruining the country” and the “scam of the century.”[x] Trump also has made his concerns about national security known.[xi] The administration has ordered a halt to any new wind and solar projects from being developed on federal land or in federal waters and has revoked incentives for clean energy initiatives.[xii] The administration has not limited their scope to future wind farm projects but also has halted construction and development of wind farms already under construction and nearing completion, such as the Revolution Wind site off the coast of Rhode Island.[xiii] An August 29th report from the United States Department of Transportation announced that Transportation Secretary, Sean Duffy, cancelled funding for twelve offshore wind projects throughout the nation.[xiv] These measures are all part of the Trump administration’s broader initiative to kill offshore wind farms outright in America.[xv]
The Trump administration’s attempts to end offshore wind farms have not gone unchallenged, however. Unsurprisingly, energy companies invested in currently-in-development offshore wind projects have sought relief through legal channels. The courts delivered these energy companies a momentary win last week. Orsted, a Danish energy company that has invested billions of dollars into the Revolutions Wind project, was granted a preliminary injunction to continue developing the site. [xvi] Over five billion dollars has already been invested in the project, which is 80% complete.[xvii] Adam Suess, acting assistant secretary for the Department of the Interior, stated that Revolution Wind had not addressed several “concerns” in support of the administration’s stop work order.[xviii] However, Revolution Wind was able to prove that the military and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) had no concerns over the project prior to Trump taking office in January.[xix] Revolution Wind and Orsted were also able to prove their continuing efforts to address any concerns from the military, NOAA, and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) since Trump took office as recently as September 9, 2025, just a few days before Suess stated that Revolution Wind was not in compliance with the administration’s directives.[xx]
In yet another blow to Trump’s crusade against offshore wind farms, executives from some of America’s largest oil and natural gas providers have even come out against his effort to eliminate offshore wind.[xxi] Darren Woods, CEO of Exxon Mobil, stated his concerns that constantly changing policy and administrative change is “not good for business,” and that it also is not good for the economy or the people.[xxii] Some in the traditional energy industry are also wary that the attack on renewables may provide ammunition for the next president to attack traditional energy in retaliation.[xxiii] Mike Sommers, CEO of the American Petroleum Institute, has called for an end to the politicization of the energy permitting process, citing abuses by both sides.[xxiv] While this is just conjecture from individuals associated with the traditional energy industry, it must be extremely disheartening for the administration to have even those that stand to benefit from a departure from renewables criticize the crusade against off-shore wind farms.
The desire to protect traditional pillars of American industry, such as massive oil and natural gas conglomerates, is understandable. However, at a certain point society must adapt to the changing circumstances of the times. As evidenced by statements from experts on either end of the spectrum, environmentalists on one side and oil executives on the other, a complete break with renewable energies like wind is not in the national interest. To do so threatens the stability of America’s energy sector, wastes untold billions of dollars that have already been spent on offshore wind projects, and would undo much of the great progress made towards cleaning our environment of pollutants. Furthermore, there simply has been little to no evidence presented that offshore wind farms are a risk to national security prior to Trump’s baseless claims. If the Trump administration wants to protect the American oil and natural gas industries, they should find another avenue, as the crusade against offshore wind farms will only hurt the nation in the long run.
[i] Samantha Gross, Why are fossil fuels so hard to quit?, Brookings (Jun. 2020), https://www.brookings.edu/articles/why-are-fossil-fuels-so-hard-to-quit/ [https://perma.cc/6884-NJK4].
[ii] Wind explained: History of wind power, U.S. Energy Info. Admin (last updated Apr. 20, 2023), https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/wind/history-of-wind-power.php [https://perma.cc/VAB4-RNAL].
[iii] Renewable energy explained: Incentives, U.S. Energy Info. Admin. (last updated Dec. 30, 2022), https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/renewable-sources/incentives.php [https://perma.cc/4WBW-N7M6].
[iv] Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), U.S. Energy Info. Admin. (last updated Feb. 29, 2024), https://www.eia.gov/tools/faqs/faq.php?id=427&t=3 [https://perma.cc/V8JQ-R7NP].
[v] Id.
[vi] Wind explained: Where wind power is harnessed, U.S. Energy Info. Admin. (last updated Jun. 12, 2024), https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/wind/where-wind-power-is-harnessed.php [https://perma.cc/QBX7-PB9J].
[vii] Id.
[viii] Offshore Wind Opportunities, The Nature Conservancy (last updated Apr. 16, 2025), https://www.nature.org/en-us/what-we-do/our-priorities/tackle-climate-change/clean-energy-transition/offshore-wind/ [https://perma.cc/M8TR-ULJX].
[ix] Oliver Milman and Dharna Noor, How Trump’s assault on US wind industry threatens jobs and power for nearly 5m homes, The Guardian (Sep. 24, 2025), https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/sep/24/trump-wind-power-threats-homes [https://perma.cc/838G-DFCJ].
[x] Id.
[xi] Id.
[xii] Id.
[xiii] Id.
[xiv] Trump’s Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy Terminates and Withdraws $679 Million from Doomed Offshore Wind Projects, U.S. Dep’t. of Transp. (Aug. 29, 2025), https://www.transportation.gov/briefing-room/trumps-transportation-secretary-sean-p-duffy-terminates-and-withdraws-679-million [https://perma.cc/VXE7-C4NE].
[xv] Nick Stonesifer, US Wind: Trump has plans to ‘kill outright offshore wind projects’, Spotlight Del. (Sep. 7, 2025) https://spotlightdelaware.org/2025/09/07/us-wind-says-trump-has-plans-to-kill-outright-offshore-wind-projects/ [https://perma.cc/UM7M-NB4T].
[xvi] Jennifer McDermott and Matthew Daly, Judge lifts Trump’s halt of nearly complete offshore wind energy project, PBS (Sep. 22, 2025), https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/judge-lifts-trumps-halt-of-nearly-complete-offshore-wind-energy-project [https://perma.cc/8P2P-A5BR].
[xvii] Id.
[xviii] Jael Holzman, How Trump’s Case Against Revolution Wind Fell Apart, Heatmap (Sep. 26, 2025), https://heatmap.news/energy/revolution-wind-defense-claims [https://perma.cc/FHW7-38JF].
[xix] Id.
[xx] Id.
[xxi] Rebecca Elliott, Unexpected Critics of Trump’s Attacks on Wind Energy: Oil Executives, N.Y. Times (Sep. 27, 2025), https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/27/business/energy-environment/oil-gas-trump-offshore-wind.html [https://perma.cc/G9RM-EA2X].
[xxii] Id.
[xxiii] Id.
[xxiv] Id.