Trump Issues Executive Order to Temporary Withdrawal Offshore Wind Leasing on OCS

On January 20, 2025, President Trump issued an Executive Order issuing a temporary withdrawal of all areas on the outer continental shelf from offshore wind leasing and a review of the federal government’s leasing and permitting practices for wind projects.

The withdrawal temporarily prevents consideration of any area in the OCS 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. The withdrawal does not apply to leasing related to any other purposes such as, but not limited to, oil, gas, minerals, and environmental conservation.

Nothing in this withdrawal affects rights under existing leases in the withdrawn areas. With respect to such existing leases, the Secretary of the Interior, in consultation with the Attorney General as needed, shall conduct a comprehensive review of the ecological, economic, and environmental necessity of terminating or amending any existing wind energy leases, identifying any legal bases for such removal, and submit a report with recommendations to the President, through the Assistant to the President for Economic Policy.

Additionally, the Executive Order included a temporary Cessation and Immediate Review of Federal Wind Leasing and Permitting Practices. The assessment shall consider the environmental impact of onshore and offshore wind projects upon wildlife, including, but not limited to, birds and marine mammals. The assessment shall also consider the economic costs associated with the intermittent generation of electricity and the effect of subsidies on the viability of the wind industry.

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