In a provocative declaration, Donald Trump has pledged to immediately halt offshore wind energy projects on his first day as US president, escalating his assault on the renewable energy sector.
Speaking at a rally in Wildwood, New Jersey, Trump perpetuated false claims about wind projects harming whales, vowing to eradicate an industry championed by Joe Biden. This vow marks the latest in a series of promises to dismantle key aspects of the transition to cleaner energy.
Trump’s tirade against offshore wind energy is rooted in misinformation, with experts affirming that wind turbines do not cause whale deaths. Instead, factors like fishing nets, boat strikes, pollution, and the climate crisis pose far greater threats to marine mammals.
Trump Pledges to End Offshore Wind Projects ‘on Day One’ of New Term as President
Nevertheless, a recent spate of beached whale carcasses has fueled opposition to offshore wind, with some groups, backed by the fossil fuel industry, calling for a ban.
Trump’s pledge to scrap wind projects has sent shockwaves through the industry, with a former Trump administration energy official warning that investors would be “pretty, pretty nervous” about the future of offshore wind.
Environmental advocates have denounced Trump’s stance as “shortsighted and misguided,” emphasizing that climate change poses the greatest threat to our oceans. New Jersey, in particular, has a vested interest in pursuing clean energies to protect its coast and economy.
The League of Conservation Voters’ senior policy director, Allison McLeod, accused Trump of peddling misinformation to serve the interests of big oil, which has funded a concerted campaign to mislead voters.
As the presidential election looms, Trump’s invective against offshore wind has become a rallying cry for his base, but it also highlights the stark contrast between his climate policies and those of Joe Biden, who has championed the transition to cleaner energy.
