offshore wind turbines
Photo credit: NREL Offshore Wind Research

One of the many executive orders signed by President Donald Trump on Monday temporarily halts offshore wind lease sales in federal waters and pauses the issuance of approvals, permits, and loans for both onshore and offshore wind projects. As part of the order, the interior secretary will review wind leasing and permitting practices for federal waters and lands. The assessment will consider environmental impact on wildlife, economic costs, and the effect of subsidies on the viability of the wind industry. Offshore wind is among the sources of new power generation that will cost the most, at about $100 per megawatt hour for new projects connecting to the grid in 2028, according to estimates from the Energy Information Administration. That includes tax credits under the Inflation Reduction Act, which reduces the cost of renewable technologies. The order does not apply to leasing related to other purposes such as oil, gas, minerals, and environmental conservation.

The order also temporarily prohibits Magic Valley Energy from continuing to develop the Lava Ridge Wind Project in Idaho. The federal government approved a scaled-down plan for the wind farm in December over local opposition, including from groups concerned about its proximity to a historic site where Japanese Americans were incarcerated during World War II. The wind farm is just 9 miles from the site and was approved for 241 wind turbines.

Read more about the order here: Trump temporarily halts leasing and permitting for wind energy projects

Read more about the Lava Ridge Project and the Minidoka incarceration site: