President Trump has sent a powerful message to the renewable energy sector and California Governor Gavin Newsom by canceling a staggering $679 million in federal support for offshore wind projects across the nation.
Breitbart reported that this sweeping decision, which notably slashes $427 million from a critical wind turbine project in Humboldt County, California, has rocked the green energy world and raised serious questions about the future of such initiatives under the current administration.
At the heart of this move is the termination of federal backing for 12 offshore wind endeavors, many of which were to become critical staging areas for turbine construction at sea.
The Humboldt County project, for instance, was set to assemble floating turbines critical to California’s renewable goals, but now it’s been left high and dry.
Adding to the financial sting, a project off the coasts of Connecticut and Rhode Island, led by Danish developer Orsted, was reportedly 80% complete and slated to begin operations next year. Its sudden defunding is a major setback for the industry.
Smaller projects also felt the axe, including a $48 million offshore wind port on Staten Island and a $39 million port near Norfolk, as well as a $20 million initiative in Paulsboro, New Jersey. These cuts signal a broader recommitment to green energy priorities.
These funds, previously shepherded by the Biden administration, were withdrawn by the Transportation Department last Friday, though the exact reasoning behind the decision remains a point of contention.
Speculation is rife that the cuts, particularly the hefty $427 million loss in California, may be a direct jab at Governor Gavin Newsom.
His recent signing of a climate change agreement with Denmark has seemingly irked the Trump administration. Hours after Denmark’s foreign office commented on the climate deal with Newsom, the Trump order to pull the funds emerged.
Newsom, who has often clashed with Trump while securing $40 million in federal support for wildfire issues earlier this year, may now find himself at odds with a White House prioritizing different battles.
For the Danish government, this echoes past frictions where U.S. political decisions left them feeling sidelined. Now, with Orsted entangled in this latest dispute, the ripples are felt across the Atlantic.
“Joe Biden and Pete Buttig went over backwards to use taxpayer money for their Green New Scam while ignoring the dire needs of our shipbuilding industry,” said Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy. “With President Trump, we are prioritizing real American needs over fantasy wind projects that cost much and offer little.”
These words from Duffy underscore a conservative push to refocus on what many consider core national interests, rather than what some view as speculative environmental experiments with uncertain returns.
Ultimately, this $679 million cut, while a bitter Pill for green advocates, aligns with broader skepticism of overblown climate fearmongering that many hardworking Americans believe diverts resources from more pressing needs. The message from Trump is clear: national priorities must come first.