US offshore wind executives are privately concerned about a possible Trump election victory

By Shariq Khan

ATLANTIC CITY, New Jersey (Reuters) – U.S. offshore wind developers put on a brave face at a conference this week, touting their ability to work with leaders of both political parties, even as private attendees worried it could be for them could become difficult if Republican Donald Trump wins the November 5 presidential election.

The Republican candidate and former president pledged via executive order on his first day in office to scrap offshore wind projects if he retakes the White House. He claims that windmills ruin the environment and kill birds and whales.

Trump is in a tight race against Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris, who has pushed for ambitious offshore wind goals as part of President Joe Biden’s administration.

The tight election race has compounded a challenging year for the industry, already battered by canceled projects, suspended lease sales and a construction accident at the country’s first major offshore wind project.

“We have this conference every year in October and obviously a week before federal elections, which adds a certain amount of energy and uncertainty,” said Jason Grumet, CEO of the American Clean Power Association, on the sidelines of ACP’s Offshore Windpower conference in Atlantic City.

“The fact that this election is so polarized across the country I think increases the sense of uncertainty, not just around the economic questions about offshore wind deployment, but people are generally quite passionate about the direction of the country. So I think we just felt a little bit of fear that was much broader than anyone’s commercial commitments.

On the background, at least a dozen industry participants at the conference spoke of an uncertain future for the industry under the Trump administration. Two offshore wind development executives expressed fears of a long, slow spiral for the industry if Trump wins and halts federal permitting for projects.

They all declined to comment on the record. Other executives and regulators contacted by Reuters at the conference declined to comment on the implications of a Trump presidency, or said they will work with whoever is in the White House, without detailing how.

“Our purpose remains regardless of who is in the White House,” said Doreen Harris, CEO of the New York State Research and Development Authority. New York wants to install 9 Gigawatts (GW) of offshore wind energy by 2035.

In an emailed statement, Equinor said it does not view providing renewable energy and creating a domestic supply chain as a partisan issue.

In addition, a White House adviser on renewable energy said a Trump presidency would likely mean a reduction in federal offshore wind leasing, adding to other challenges.

“I’m not sure that the administration alone will be the only obstacle. But clearly it will be a major obstacle if there is not someone behind these projects,” Carl Fleming, partner at law firm McDermott Will & Emery, told Reuters. by telephone.

He added that the offshore wind industry would struggle to meet the Biden administration’s target of 30 GW by 2030, regardless of who wins the Nov. 5 election.

“The industry has encountered some challenges and bumps along the way, but our role is to continue to try to realize that ambition and show that the US is serious about the clean energy transition,” said Liz Klein, director of the US Bureau of Ocean Energy. Management said when asked whether the targets are achievable.

The conference overlaps with the Biden administration’s first offshore wind lease sale in the Gulf of Maine, which attracted just $22 million in bids. Several industry observers blamed election fears for the low turnout at developer auctions.

(Additional reporting by Nichola Groom; Editing by David Gregorio)