Trump Administration Escalates Offshore Wind Standoff, Moves to Revoke SouthCoast Wind Permit

The Trump administration has intensified its campaign against offshore wind development, filing a motion in U.S. District Court to revoke a critical construction and operations permit for SouthCoast Wind. This planned 141-turbine project off the Massachusetts coast now faces significant uncertainty, marking the latest in a series of federal actions aimed at halting U.S. offshore wind initiatives.

This move follows recent permit revocations for a Maryland wind farm and a stop-work order for Rhode Island’s nearly-completed Revolution Wind project. The administration’s filing asserts that the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s (BOEM) initial approval of SouthCoast Wind’s permit on January 17, 2025—just days before President Trump’s second term began—”may not have fully complied with the law.”

SouthCoast Wind has vowed to “vigorously defend our permits in federal court,” emphasizing the project’s extensive public process and the importance of stable permitting for infrastructure investment. CEO Michael Brown noted the company has already invested over $6 million, expecting federal adherence to established regulations.

Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey strongly criticized the administration’s actions, stating, “New England needs this power, to lower costs and for reliability. There is absolutely no need for the Trump Administration to reopen permitting processes and deny jobs, investment and energy power to the states.”

Legal experts, like Kate Sinding Daly of the Conservation Law Foundation, describe the government’s rationale as “specious and shallow,” suggesting it relies on a new interpretation of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act. The Interior Department had previously overturned 2021 guidance on this act in May, directing reevaluation of permits.

The administration appears to be leveraging ongoing federal litigation, often brought by local communities or anti-wind groups, to achieve its goals. Instead of defending BOEM’s initial approval, the government is aligning with challengers, effectively seeking a voluntary remand of the permit. With the substantial authority vested in the sitting administration regarding offshore wind, analysts believe it will be challenging for a judge to rule against the government’s request. This legal battle sets a precedent for other projects, including New England Wind, which is slated for a similar permit remand next month.

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