Trump’s administration has withdrawn $679 million in funding for offshore wind projects, citing wasteful practices and the need to revitalize America’s maritime industry. The bulk of the Biden-era funds will be reclaimed from a marine terminal in Humboldt County, California, which was set to build and launch wind turbines that can float in the ocean. The move will also strip millions from two projects in New Jersey, $47 million from an offshore wind project in Maryland, $10.5 million a project in Connecticut, and $11.2 million for infrastructure upgrades to the Port of Davisville in Rhode Island.
Clean energy advocates and leaders in the states losing funding criticized the move, predicting it would contribute to higher energy costs and eliminate jobs. California Rep. Jared Huffman (D), ranking member of the House Natural Resources Committee, said to The Associated Press that the move is “dogmatic” and would eliminate thousands of jobs and an entire sector that could bring cheap, reliable power to American consumers. Kit Kennedy, managing director for the power division at Natural Resources Defense Council, told AP that the Trump administration is trying to prop up polluting coal plants while halting the fastest growing energy sources of the future – solar and wind power.
A separate project known as Revolution Wind is also set to lose funding as ordered by the Trump administration. The wind farm built in Rhode Island to the tune of $6.2 billion had its funding revoked despite its expected completion in 2026 and projected ability to power 350,000 homes. Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont (D) said of Duffy’s decision that it would drive up the cost of electricity bills and waste years of state investment in renewable energy designed to diversify the energy supply and lower costs for families and businesses.
