Trump’s war on wind seems to be winning

illuminem summarizes for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on The Washington Post or enjoy below:

🗞️ Driving the news: President Donald Trump’s freeze on offshore wind project approvals is disrupting the U.S. wind industry, causing major setbacks in New York and New Jersey
• Companies like Shell and Equinor are pulling back investments, jeopardizing state-level climate goals
• Experts warn that without offshore wind, these states will struggle to meet their ambitious renewable energy targets

🔭 The context: Offshore wind was beginning to gain momentum under the Biden administration, but Trump's executive order has put dozens of projects on hold
• Some Republican lawmakers support wind energy due to job creation, while others are pushing for a complete shutdown
• The fight over wind policy is expected to intensify as Congress debates rolling back clean energy incentives from the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Offshore wind is a critical component of U.S. climate policy, with planned projects expected to cut carbon emissions by 50 million tons annually—equivalent to taking 131 gas power plants offline
• Delays could lead to greater reliance on natural gas, increasing emissions and slowing progress toward climate goals
• The uncertainty also risks billions in clean energy investments

⏭️ What's next: Wind developers fear that even permitted projects could be stalled by the Trump administration, creating long delays and financial uncertainty
• The industry is awaiting clarity from the Interior Department, while some GOP lawmakers push to preserve wind investments
• With offshore wind playing a key role in future U.S. energy supply, the policy battle is far from over

💬 One quote: “There are states that won’t be able to meet those goals or even reach their short-term demand without offshore wind.” — Stephanie Francoeur, Oceantic Network

📈 One stat: Offshore wind projects currently under development could provide 9,000 megawatts to New York alone—68 times more than its only existing offshore wind farm

Click for more news covering the latest on wind energy and public governance