WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) announced this week, effective August 2, 2025, that it is rescinding all designated Wind Energy Areas (WEAs) on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). This action will de-designate over 3.5 million acres of federal waters previously identified for offshore wind development, marking a significant shift in federal energy policy. The decision aligns with a Secretarial Order and a Presidential Memorandum, which the Trump administration states aim to end “preferential treatment for unreliable, foreign controlled energy sources.”

The de-designated areas span critical regions including the Gulf of Mexico, Gulf of Maine, the New York Bight, California, Oregon, and the Central Atlantic. These WEAs were initially established to identify and delineate offshore locations suitable for commercial-scale wind energy development. The rescission effectively terminates the federal practice of designating expansive sections of the OCS for speculative wind projects, a move that has immediate and long-term implications for the nascent U.S. offshore wind industry.

This policy change follows Secretary’s Order 3437, titled “Ending Preferential Treatment for Unreliable, Foreign Controlled Energy Sources in Department Decision-Making,” and a Presidential Memorandum issued on January 20, 2025. The memorandum called for a “Temporary Withdrawal of All Areas on the OCS from Offshore Wind Leasing and Review of the Federal Government’s Leasing and Permitting Practices for Wind Projects,” signaling the administration's intent to re-evaluate its approach to renewable energy.

Maryland Energy Administration Director Paul G. Pinsky issued a strong statement in response to BOEM’s announcement, criticizing the federal action. “The Trump administration’s latest attack on renewable energy is an insult to America’s economy, energy independence, and the public’s common sense,” Pinsky stated. He emphasized the economic benefits of offshore wind, citing “good jobs in places that need them” and its role in producing “energy without the carbon emissions that make storms stronger, flooding worse, and economic disruptions to local economies more severe.” Pinsky reiterated Maryland’s commitment to advancing thoroughly studied and economically beneficial offshore wind projects.

Conversely, some local elected officials have expressed support for the administration’s decision. Maryland Rep. Andy Harris applauded the move, stating it “will protect coastal communities and taxpayers from risky, foreign-controlled projects.” The divergent reactions underscore the ongoing political and economic debate surrounding the future of offshore wind development in the United States, as states and developers grapple with a rapidly evolving federal policy landscape.