Trump wind policy threatens U.S. renewable projects, adds $2 billion in federal payouts

The Trump administration’s campaign against wind power has halted or delayed up to 165 U.S. projects and led to about $2 billion in federal payments to offshore wind developers to abandon projects, according to the American Clean Power Association and recent agreements cited in the report. Wind generates 10.5% of U.S. electricity, with significant output from Republican-led states including Texas, Oklahoma, Iowa and Kansas. Trump issued an executive order on January 20, 2025, blocking new offshore wind permits and ordering a review of existing approvals. Federal judges have since blocked parts of the order and related project suspensions. The Interior Department agreed in March 2026 to pay TotalEnergies about $1 billion to exit U.S. offshore wind and invest in oil and gas projects. A separate deal would pay Ocean Winds $885 million to abandon two projects, including one off California. Congressional Democrats questioned the legality of the TotalEnergies payment, while the California Energy Commission opened an investigation into the Ocean Winds agreement.