There has been a perfect trifecta of movement among President Donald Trump’s cabinet members and agency administrators, with a focus on making our energy sources both reliable and affordable.
First, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin slams a stake into the heart of the green energy regulatory monster, by rescinding actions based on the “endangerment finding.” That’s the court order that empowered the agency to decide that six key greenhouse gases (including carbon dioxide, methane, and others) endanger both public health and welfare, laying the groundwork for hyper-regulation that restricted both prosperity and personal liberty. Those subsequent rules promulgated by the EPA allowed the agency to essentially conduct a “War on Fossil Fuels,” a “War on Appliances,” and a “War on Meat.”
Then, Department of Energy Secretary Chris Wright followed that move by releasing an updated “climate assessment” way ahead of schedule and authored by five serious-minded climate and economic professionals (as opposed to the 400 climate cultists original slated to prepare the document). “A Critical Review of Impacts of Greenhouse Gas Emissions on the U.S. Climate” is a thoughtful, balanced work that reviews both the science and economics behind “climate change.” The document also references studies that suggest that the economic impact of carbon dioxide-induced warming may be less severe than promoted by the media and activist climate “scientists” and notes that aggressive climate mitigation efforts could potentially do more harm than good.
Yesterday, the third leg of the “America First” energy trifecta dropped. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum announced that the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is ending special treatment for unreliable green energy sources, such as wind, to focus on more reliable, affordable sources.
Specifically, the BOEM is rescinding all designated Wind Energy Areas (WEAs) on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). This move ends the federal practice of designating large swaths of offshore areas for wind energy development, effectively de-designating over 3.5 million acres of unleased federal waters previously identified for potential offshore wind projects.
The decision impacts 11 previously designated WEAs across multiple U.S. regions including the Gulf of Mexico, North Carolina, Gulf of Maine, Oregon Coast, and California’s Morro Bay. Specifically, this includes four WEAs off Texas and Louisiana, three off North Carolina, one covering approximately 2 million acres in New England, and two floating WEAs totaling 195,000 acres off Oregon.“By rescinding WEAs, BOEM is ending the federal practice of designating large areas of the OCS for speculative wind development,” stated the agency in its announcement.
The official announcement has one kicker of a statement, which is so glorious it needs to be highlighted: By terminating these Wind Energy Areas, we are safeguarding our coastal environments and local economies from unchecked development, while ensuring our power grids are not underpinned by unreliable, subsidized energy sources.
Legal Insurrection readers will recall that wind energy developers were disinclined to listen to the complaints or concerns of those in the areas impacted by their projects. Under the new guidelines, the needs of local communities will be part of energy assessment plans.
The Department will strengthen its guidance to ensure more meaningful consultation regarding offshore wind development, especially with tribes, the fishing industry, and coastal towns. The construction and operation of offshore wind turbines have disproportionate impacts on these stakeholders, from disrupting commercial fishing to driving away tourism. By addressing current gaps, this updated guidance will support greater collaboration, transparency, and respect for community and regional priorities.
The Legal Insurrection team has recounted the potential adverse impacts wind farms have had on birds. The new policy mandates careful study of potential harm to birds in migratory paths from wind turbines and a review of relevant regulations around bird protection.
The Department will conduct a careful review of avian mortality rates associated with the development of wind energy projects located in migratory flight paths and determine whether such impacts qualify as “incidental” takings of birds under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and related laws. The Department will also conduct a review of the applicable regulations to determine the appropriate approach to permitting these activities, identifying violations of the applicable statutes, and related penalties.
Hot Air’s Beege Welborn sums up the ultimate effect of the BOEM’s new policy:
What Burgum did yesterday was pull the rug out from under damn near every wind project that hasn’t done a piling sounding.The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) rescinded all the wind energy leasing areas. Just like POOF! GONE!OFF THE MAPYou can’t lease it if it ain’t there.
And while this is all good news, many citizen groups must still be mindful of court cases and current projects that are already initiated.
Hopefully, the Trump administration will continue to successfully erase Obama and Biden era green energy lunacy.
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