It Was Supposed to be RI’s New Growth Industry, Trump May Have Killed It

It Was Supposed to be RI’s New Growth Industry, Trump May Have Killed It

On Monday night, President Donald Trump issued an executive order functionally killing the future of the offshore wind industry.

Rhode Island has invested tens of millions of dollars to support the Industry by rebuilding, and building out, ports across Rhode Island.

In 2023, Governor Dan McKee and the General Assembly allocated $60 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding in 2022 to assist in the development of the state’s "only public port," continuing Davisville’s evolution as a "key hub for the offshore wind industry in the North Atlantic."

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Then, Rhode Island voters this past November approved Question #4, which provides $53 million for environmental initiatives.

The biggest chunk was for the wind industry.

“Quonset’s Port of Davisville – $15 million to support the continued growth and modernization of Rhode Island’s only public port. The investment will finance new berthing space and prepare the port to serve as a key offshore wind hub for the North Atlantic and play a critical role in delivering clean energy to homes across the Northeast,” claimed the coalition supporting the bond. 

In 2024, McKee outlined how the offshore wind industry was going to fuel the economy and jobs and help Rhode Island meet its climate goals.

“With the first working offshore wind farm in the United States, we know that Rhode Island is an industry leader. But we’re not stopping there – our second offshore wind project, Revolution Wind, is set to commence construction this year. When construction is complete, Revolution Wind will power nearly 263,000 households at a rate of 9.8 cents per kilowatt for 20 years. This is an important step toward meeting our Act on Climate goals,” said McKee in his 2024 State of the State speech.

“In order to get our offshore wind projects completed, we need the people doing the work. A few of our offshore wind workers are here tonight and I want to thank them: Nicole Kent of IBEW Local 99, Nicholas Russo of Laborers Local 271 and Jennifer O’Dwyer of Ironworkers Local 37. I want to recognize them and everyone who is helping us continue our progress on offshore wind. Thank you all for being on Team Rhode Island,” said McKee.

 

Trump's Action

But Trump’s sweeping executive order could block not just new offshore wind farms in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans but may also block smaller wind farms on federal land and could impact projects on private property across the country.

The executive order states in part, "Consistent with the principles of responsible public stewardship that are entrusted to this office, with due consideration for a variety of relevant factors, including the need to foster an energy economy capable of meeting the country’s growing demand for reliable energy, the importance of marine life, impacts on ocean currents and wind patterns, effects on energy costs for Americans –- especially those who can least afford it –- and to ensure that the United States is able to maintain a robust fishing industry for future generations and provide low cost energy to its citizens..."

Further, it states, "This withdrawal temporarily prevents consideration of any area in the [Outer Continental Shelf] for any new or renewed wind energy leasing for the purposes of generation of electricity or any other such use derived from the use of wind.  This withdrawal does not apply to leasing related to any other purposes such as, but not limited to, oil, gas, minerals, and environmental conservation."

 

Wind Industry Response

The leader of the major wind project in Rhode Island, Orsted, said in a statement today, “The White House issued an executive order on offshore wind late Monday evening. We are in the process of reviewing to assess the impact on our portfolio.”

And, the American Clean Power Association (ACP) said, “President Trump is correct that absent significant changes in energy policy, our nation will not be able to power our growth in manufacturing and achieve digital dominance that is key to national security while lowering consumer energy bills. ACP strongly supports President Trump’s effort to reform the permitting process to speed the development of all forms of domestic energy production. ACP member companies also look forward to creating hundreds of thousands of new U.S. jobs as we did during the first Trump Administration.”

“ACP strongly opposes blanket measures to halt or impede development of domestic wind energy on federal lands and waters. The contradiction between the energy-focused Executive Orders is stark: while on one hand the Administration seeks to reduce bureaucracy and unleash energy production, on the other it increases bureaucratic barriers, undermining domestic energy development and harming American businesses and workers,” said the group.

“The possibility that the federal government could seek to actively oppose energy production by American companies on private land is at odds with our nation’s character as well as our national interests. For too long, we have witnessed careening policy restrictions on the development of energy resources on our nation’s vast federal lands. Regardless of Administration, 'some of the above' strategies are not good energy policy. No nation can achieve energy dominance absent consistent policy that moves beyond the idea that energy systems have partisan character,” added ACP.

 

Trump States Are the Biggest Wind States

According to the ACP, “Wind power is an essential element of our ability to serve soaring electricity demand for manufacturing and data centers that are key to national security. It is also playing a growing role in our energy systems in red and blue states across the country. In fact, states voting for President Trump are eight of the top ten states in terms of reliance on wind power with many depending on wind for a significant share of their electricity use. Restricting wind development in these regions is certain to increase consumer energy bills. Wind development is also supporting more than 300,000 American jobs, many in construction, manufacturing, shipbuilding, and plant operations. Offshore wind is also helping to revitalize America’s supply chain, bringing back U.S. shipbuilding, and creating economic prosperity and jobs, with billions of dollars in new investment.”