MAINE PUBLIC • January 21, 2025
Hours into his new term, President Donald Trump hit the pause button on American wind power development. The move may hobble Maine’s plan to meet ambitious clean electricity targets. Trump’s executive order puts a stop to federal leases for ocean wind power. And it suspends permitting and funding for offshore and land-based turbines until federal agencies review the impacts of wind projects. It might affect Maine’s long term goal of using 100% clean electricity by 2040, which leans on building 3 gigawatts of offshore wind. Jack Shapiro, of the Natural Resources Council of Maine, said he’s perplexed by the opposition to an industry with the potential to lower energy prices, grow the state’s economy and reduce reliance on electricity made from fossil fuels.