CT joins 19-state effort against Trump opposition to offshore wind energy
Trump has moved to shut down renewable energy, particularly offshore wind, as expensive and unreliable, while supporting expansion of fossil fuel development. On his first day in office, Trump signed an executive order temporarily halting offshore wind lease sales in federal waters and pausing the issuance of approvals, permits and loans for all wind projects. Since then he has blocked projects off New York and New Jersey.
'This is yet another lawless effort by Donald Trump to enrich the fossil fuel industry and illegally micromanage state business. Connecticut has the right to secure our energy future, and one that makes the most sense for our costs and climate,' Tong said Monday after the federal suit was filed in Boston.
New England's power industry supports offshore energy development and opposes administration efforts to block it.
'Large-scale offshore wind development is hardwired into electric reliability planning for New England,' said Dan Dolan, president of the New England Power Generators Association. 'I am hopeful that the projects under construction and committed in the market will come online soon to deliver reliability benefits for the region.'
'Every energy source has its challenges, be they cost, emissions, land-use, scale, or technological,' he said. 'Without offshore wind, New England's energy choices narrow significantly over the next decade with difficult future choices as electricity demand continues to rise.'
Late last year, Gov. Ned Lamont shocked neighboring states when he decided to step away from a three-state, offshore energy buy as too expensive. He said Connecticut would concentrate its decarbonization efforts, at least over the short term, in solar and energy storage projects.
The decision left Connecticut with one offshore wind contract — an agreement to buy power, with Rhode Island, from Revolution Wind, which is under construction south of Block Island by Danish multinational Orsted. The project will provide 304 megawatts of energy to Connecticut and 400 megawatts to Rhode Island, enough energy to power more than 350,000 homes in both states.
Orsted, a major player in offshore wind, was a substantial investor in the $300 million reconstruction of the state pier in New London, which was redesigned as a support hub for offshore construction.
The attorneys general allege in their suit the Trump executive order hurts state efforts to secure reliable, diversified, and affordable sources of energy to meet their increasing demand for electricity and help reduce emissions of harmful air pollutants, meet clean energy goals, and address climate change.
The administration's opposition to wind also threatens significant investment already made in wind industry infrastructure, supply chains, and workforce development — investments the state's claim are already in the billions of dollars.
In filing this lawsuit, the attorneys general are asking the court to declare the president's directive illegal and prevent the administration from taking any action to delay or prevent wind energy development.
Trump's hostility to offshore wind has exacerbated serious financial problems that predated his election by more than a year. Supply chain and interest rate problems caused delays, steep price hikes and led to project failures.
The administration promises to discontinue lease sales, permitting and generous government subsidies has caused the outlook to deteriorate further.
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