Shattering US Wind Energy Dreams, BOEM Revokes All Federal Offshore Wind Areas

In a sweeping rollback of US offshore wind policy, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has officially rescinded all federally designated Wind Energy Areas (WEAs) on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS).

The move eliminates over 3.5 million acres previously identified for offshore wind development, including vast tracts off the California coast.

Destructive Wind Energy!

The decision follows a broader executive directive from President Donald Trump, who has always been vocal in his opposition to wind energy. 

Trump recently reiterated his long-standing criticism of wind turbines, calling them "destructive" and "environmentally unsound." At one event, he said, "We're not going to let windmills get built because we're not going to destroy our country any further than it’s already been destroyed.”

The White House had already suspended all wind leasing processes on the OCS on day one of the administration, pending a review. The Department of the Interior confirmed this shift in energy policy on Monday, declaring that it would be “ending special treatment for unreliable energy sources, such as wind.” The agency also hinted at reconsidering onshore wind development on federal lands.

BOEM, a key agency under Interior, followed up with a formal statement revoking all WEAs, citing an end to the “federal practice of designating large areas of the OCS for speculative wind development.” 

While existing leases remain unaffected, the move confirms that previously suspended lease auctions will no longer proceed.

California Projects Face Uncertainty

The decision casts uncertainty over major offshore wind investments, particularly along the California coast.

Three international developers -- Equinor (Atlas Offshore Wind), Golden State Wind, and Invenergy -- have committed USD 425 million to develop floating wind farms off San Luis Obispo County. These developers also pledged USD 66 million toward workforce training.

Though the new policy does not retroactively cancel existing leases, it raises concerns about the future of projects like the Morro Bay lease area. However, officials confirmed that the CADEMO floating wind demonstration project, located entirely within California state waters, remains unaffected by the federal rollback.

As the US government pivots away from offshore wind, states and developers are left to reassess timelines, investment strategies, and regulatory pathways. With offshore wind central to long-term US clean energy goals, the revocation of federal WEAs comes as a dramatic departure from previous climate and energy strategies.