The chairman of the House Judiciary Committee's oversight panel said he is drafting an executive order at the behest of President-elect Donald Trump to freeze all offshore wind energy development.
Representative Jeff Van Drew (R-NJ) announced Jan. 13 that the executive order "would halt offshore wind turbine activities along the East Coast and lay the groundwork for permanent measures against the projects."
The proposed order is expected to be finalized within the first few months of the administration, according to Van Drew's office.
"These offshore wind projects should have never been approved in the first place," Van Drew said in a news release. "They are an economic and environmental disaster waiting to happen."
Van Drew told local media outlet NJ Spotlight News that his office promptly drew up a draft for the Trump transition team, and that the order would halt all wind activities for six months as the Interior Department conducts a review of the industry.
New Jersey beach communities and the commercial fishing industry have become staunch critics of the push by President Joe Biden to approve 30 GW of offshore wind by 2030. Trump latched on to the criticism during his campaign, saying he would begin to unravel the offshore wind program on day one of his second presidency.
Trump's energy policy would instead favor fossil fuel production over continued renewable energy approvals.
"I've spoken with the president about the wind turbines, and he told me to have my people draw up an executive order. We got it done in 48 hours," Van Drew told the news outlet in an interview conducted last week.
The draft has been given to Trump transition team officials, including Doug Burgum, the nominee to head Interior. "They liked it a lot, at an initial glance," Van Drew said. "I expect an executive order in the first couple of months."
The Trump transition office did not immediately respond to a request to confirm the substance and timing of the executive order.
The regional fishing industry and other groups have argued in court filings that Interior rushed the approval process for offshore wind projects. The critics say Interior moved forward without giving adequate consideration to economic impacts, as well as the potential harm the wind projects could pose to marine habitat.
Why Trump would wait months to halt offshore wind is unclear, although he could be waiting until Burgum is approved by the Senate before instituting the order.
Burgum goes before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee on Jan. 16 for consideration as Interior secretary. Reuters reported that the originally scheduled hearing date of Jan. 14 had been canceled due to a "bureaucratic delay" with a federal ethics office. Some high-ranking Democrats had wanted the hearing to occur after Trump is sworn in Jan. 20.
Burgum served two terms as governor of North Dakota, a large shale gas-producing state. He is also being considered by Trump to lead the creation of a new national energy council, which is expected to be used to boost US fossil fuel production.
On Jan. 13, the American Energy Alliance published seven suggested questions for Burgum's forthcoming hearing. The group wants Burgum to commit to expand coal leasing on federal lands, in addition to increasing oil and natural gas production. The group plans to score the nomination vote on the Senate floor to hold lawmakers to account.
