Donald Trump’s Department of Justice has moved to vacate its approval of US Wind’s Construction and Operations Plan for the Maryland offshore wind project.
Officials said former US President Joe Biden’s administration had underestimated threats the up to 2.2GW scheme would cause to search and rescue operations and commercial fisheries, according to Reuters.
The application, filed on 22 August, prompted swift criticism from industry and state leaders who warned it threatens jobs, investment and power supply.
Oceantic Network chief executive Liz Burdock described the action as “one of the largest, economically devastating assaults on US workers, businesses, and energy in decades”.
She said: “Revoking a permit on an approved project after years of thorough agency review will raise electricity prices for families, jeopardize private investment, delay economic growth, and weaken our power grid.”
Burdock added offshore wind is already delivering for Maryland by creating skilled jobs, revitalising steel manufacturing and port redevelopment, and drawing billions in supply chain investment. “This American energy resource is a generational opportunity that nearly 70% of Marylanders support,” she said.
Governor Wes Moore also attacked the move. He said: “Canceling a project set to bring in $1 billion in investment, create thousands of good-paying jobs in manufacturing, and generate more Maryland-made electrical supply is utterly shortsighted.”
Moore warned the decision would “directly lead to utility-rate hikes by taking off most promising ways for Maryland to meet its looming energy generation challenges”.