Government intends to withdraw approval for offshore wind farm in Maryland

The Interior Department has issued a stop-work order for the Maryland Offshore Wind Project, a three-phased development proposed by US Wind, which is 80 percent complete. The project, which was scheduled to start construction by 2026, has been a target of President Trump's recent attacks on renewable energy.

Last week, the Interior Department also announced its intention to remand the project's plans for construction and operations by Sept. 12, with the aim of making legal challenges to the project moot. This decision follows Trump's administration's halt on issuing new offshore wind leases shortly after taking office in January.

The Maryland Offshore Wind Project is not the only project targeted by Trump's attempts to halt offshore wind projects along the East Coast. Work on Empire Wind, a 54-turbine project near New York, was halted for a month after offshore construction began in April.

Meanwhile, the EPA has revoked an air quality permit for a struggling project in New Jersey due to rising construction costs. The Justice Department wrote in court filings that the Interior Department is planning to rescind its permit for the Maryland Offshore Wind Project, a move that is part of President Trump's expansion of attacks on renewable energy.

In a positive development, the Maryland Offshore Wind Project's planning resumption responsibility lies with the Maryland Energy Administration (MEA). The Biden administration issued a permit for the project last year, and the administration has asked federal judges in Delaware and Maryland to stay lawsuits challenging the Maryland Offshore Wind Project.

The remand by the Interior Department could potentially pave the way for a review and possible approval of the project under the new administration. The future of offshore wind energy along the East Coast remains uncertain, but the Biden administration's commitment to renewable energy could signal a shift towards a more sustainable future.