Trump Moves to Revoke Massachusetts Offshore Wind Farm Permit/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ The Trump administration has asked a federal court to revoke the final permit for the SouthCoast Wind project off Massachusetts. The move is part of Trump’s broader campaign against offshore wind, which critics call an “all-out assault” on clean energy. Developers vow to fight the decision in court.
Trump Moves to Revoke Offshore Wind Project Permit – Quick Look
- BOEM filed motion to revoke SouthCoast Wind’s federal operations plan.
- Project: 141 turbines, powering 840,000 homes in Massachusetts & Rhode Island.
- Interior Department says prior approval may not have complied with the law.
- Trump administration has halted or reconsidered multiple offshore wind farms.
- Developers warn: U.S. may lose investment to Europe and Asia.
- Ocean Winds vows to defend its permits in court.
- Critics: Trump is threatening jobs over a “vendetta against offshore wind.”
- Comes after Biden administration approved 11 major offshore wind projects.
- Offshore wind now faces an uncertain future in U.S. markets.
Deep Look: Trump Administration Seeks to Block Massachusetts Offshore Wind Farm
WASHINGTON — The Trump administration is escalating its campaign against offshore wind, moving to revoke the final federal permit for a major Massachusetts wind farm that would have powered hundreds of thousands of homes.
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) filed a motion Thursday in federal court to withdraw approval of the SouthCoast Wind project’s construction and operations plan. That approval, granted in January 2025 just days before Trump’s second inauguration, was the last major federal hurdle before construction could begin.
What’s at Stake with SouthCoast Wind
- Location: 23 miles south of Nantucket in federal waters.
- Scope: Up to 141 turbines, enough to supply 840,000 homes in Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
- Developer: Ocean Winds, which says it will “vigorously defend” its permits in court.
The Interior Department argued in filings that earlier reviews may have failed to account for environmental and community impacts.
Broader Campaign Against Offshore Wind
The SouthCoast case is part of a larger pattern under Trump’s second term:
- Construction stopped on several offshore wind projects, including New York’s Empire Wind (since restarted) and Rhode Island/Connecticut’s Revolution Wind (still paused).
- Permits revoked or reconsidered for multiple projects, including New Jersey’s Atlantic Shores and Massachusetts’ New England Wind.
- $679 million in federal funding for offshore wind projects halted.
- Plans canceled to lease new areas of federal waters for wind development.
By contrast, the Biden administration approved 11 large offshore wind projects expected to power over 6 million homes nationwide.
Criticism and Industry Impact
Environmental advocates and labor groups sharply criticized Trump’s latest move.
Jason Walsh of the BlueGreen Alliance said:
“Trump is threatening good jobs while he pursues his senseless vendetta against offshore wind.”
Energy law experts warn that investors may shift away from U.S. waters entirely. Kristoffer Svendsen of George Washington University noted:
“Developers have plenty of options in Europe and Asia. The U.S. is becoming too risky.”
Legal and Political Context
Revoking permits for energy projects is not without precedent. President Biden canceled the Keystone XL oil pipeline and several federal oil and gas lease sales. But Trump’s efforts against offshore wind are far broader, with multiple projects simultaneously under review or reversal.
The Interior Department recently asked a federal court to cancel BOEM’s prior approval of a Maryland offshore wind farm, citing similar deficiencies in impact analysis. That project, proposed by U.S. Wind, would include up to 114 turbines supplying more than 718,000 homes.
What Comes Next
Ocean Winds insists that “stable permitting” is essential for continued U.S. energy investment and vows to fight in court. Meanwhile, industry observers predict the uncertainty could derail America’s clean energy targets and redirect billions in investment overseas.
For now, the SouthCoast project — and the future of U.S. offshore wind — hangs in the balance as legal battles play out.
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