Trump administration should cancel Avangrid offshore wind project permits: filing

The US Bureau of Ocean Energy Management wants to pull its approval for Avangrid's wind project offshore Massachusetts, the latest possible setback for the offshore wind industry targeted by the Trump administration, according to a Sept. 3 court filing.

The BOEM is reconsidering its approval of the construction and operations plan, or COP, for Avangrid's New England Wind 1 and New England Wind 2 projects, according to the legal filing with the US District Court for the District of Columbia.

The federal government intends "to remand and, separately, to vacate" the COP by Oct. 10, according to the filing, part of a lawsuit brought by a coalition accusing the offshore wind development of violating environmental protection laws.

The Trump administration recently issued an injunction halting work at the 704-MW Revolution Wind Offshore offshore Rhode Island. The administration is considering pulling the COP approval for the SouthCoast Wind Energy Offshore Project, which is also off the coast of Massachusetts.

Democratic governors in the Northeast have criticized the moves, arguing that they will hinder grid reliability in the region and raise prices.

"New England needs this energy — South Coast Wind and New England Wind would power over 1 million homes and businesses and create thousands of jobs. Having already undergone years of expert review, these projects are primed to lower costs and improve reliability," Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey said in a Sept. 3 statement.

"There is absolutely no need for the Trump administration to reopen permitting processes and deny jobs, investment and energy to the states," Healey said.

New England Wind 1 and 2 are about 20 nautical miles south of Martha's Vineyard. The BOEM approved the COP for the projects in July 2024. Massachusetts selected 791 MW from the New England Wind 1 project in a September 2024 offshore wind procurement.

At the time of its permitting approval, Avangrid said it could start construction on New England Wind 1 in 2025 and begin delivering power to the grid by 2029. The New England Wind 2 lease area is adjacent to New England Wind 1; combined, the projects could generate up to 2,600 MW of electricity, according to the BOEM.

However, the execution of the offshore wind contracts has been delayed numerous times as state officials await clarity from the federal government on the shifting policy. Shortly after taking office, President Donald Trump issued an executive order halting offshore wind leasing in federal waters and pausing offshore wind permits.

Offshore wind is key to Massachusetts' renewable energy and climate change goals, which include 5,600 MW of offshore wind by 2027 under legislation signed in 2022.

Environmental groups criticized the move by the Trump administration, saying it will raise energy prices, decrease reliability and lead to more pollution.

"Actions taken by the Trump Administration to halt critical offshore wind projects and port infrastructure along the East Coast will increase utility bills for families and businesses by hundreds of millions of dollars annually, jeopardize reliable power, and kill thousands of good-paying, union jobs," Jamie Dickerson, senior director of climate and clean energy programs at the Acadia Center, said in a Sept. 3 statement.

Representatives from Avangrid declined to comment. Avangrid is a subsidiary of Spanish energy company Iberdrola.