USA: US Wind has accused the Trump administration of seeking to “kill outright offshore wind projects” as part of a broader political push against renewable energy.
In a counterclaim filed this week in Maryland, the developer behind a planned 100-turbine wind farm off the Delmarva coast argued that efforts to rescind its permits were “inextricably tied” to presidential pressure. The permits were originally granted during the Biden administration.
The counterclaim follows a lawsuit filed by Ocean City and local groups, who allege that federal approvals bypassed proper transparency and public notice procedures. That case, along with others filed in Delaware and Maryland, has dogged the project for over a year.
The federal government has requested a “voluntary remand” of the permits, sending them back to agencies for reassessment. If approved, this could make Ocean City’s case moot while undermining US Wind’s approvals. The company has rejected the move as “baseless and prejudicial.” A ruling is expected soon, with the administration signalling it intends to undo the approvals by 12 September.
The dispute adds to years of political and legal headwinds for the project, including Sussex County’s refusal to allow cable connections for a planned substation, later challenged in court. Delaware’s legislature has since passed a law shifting land-use authority away from the county, though implementation has been delayed until next year.
For now, the fate of one of the region’s largest offshore wind projects remains uncertain.
Source: Maryland Matters
