Congressman Van Drew and President Trump Collaborate to Halt Offshore Wind Projects
In a significant move to address concerns surrounding offshore wind turbine activities, Congressman Jeff Van Drew has announced a collaborative effort with President-elect Donald Trump to draft an executive order aimed at halting these projects along the East Coast.
The proposed executive order, expected to be finalized within the initial months of the new administration, seeks to implement a temporary pause on offshore wind development and lay the groundwork for more permanent measures.
“These offshore wind projects should never have been approved in the first place,” stated Congressman Van Drew. “The Biden administration pushed them through without proper oversight, transparent leases, or a full understanding of their devastating consequences.”
The order would halt offshore wind activities for six months, allowing the federal government time to conduct a comprehensive review of the industry.
Van Drew emphasized the potential risks associated with the projects, describing them as an “economic and environmental disaster waiting to happen.”
According to the congressman, the administration’s “reckless green agenda” prioritized political objectives over the well-being of coastal communities and their residents.
Those who attended Trump’s rally in Wildwood may recall that Trump made a promise to New Jersey residents that he would stop the construction of these offshore wind projects.
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The largest project that could be affected is the Atlantic Shores South project. This initiative could include up to 197 wind turbine locations spread across two leases, situated approximately 8.7 miles offshore of Atlantic City—making the turbines highly visible from land.
Combined, these projects have the potential to generate up to 2,800 megawatts of clean, renewable energy, which the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) estimates is enough to power nearly one million homes annually.
In October of last year, the BOEM approved the Atlantic Shores South project. Then, in December, the Atlantic City Council announced their decision to move forward with the initiative.
As the executive order takes shape, Congressman Van Drew’s office has pledged to keep constituents informed and engaged in the process.
This announcement marks a broader pushback against the Biden administration’s renewable energy initiatives, signaling a significant policy stance in the ongoing debate over the future of energy production in the United States.
Let us know, if you want to see the Offshore Wind Projects paused or completely scrapped.