Doug Burgum, President Donald Trump’s nominee for Secretary of the Interior, expressed support for continuing offshore wind projects in the U.S. that have already been approved. His comments came during his confirmation hearings on Thursday, following questions from Maine Senator Angus King.
King, who has long championed renewable energy, urged Burgum to reassure Trump that wind power “isn’t all bad” and to commit to carrying forward the Department of the Interior’s offshore wind leases, particularly in the Gulf of Maine. He also asked for confirmation that ongoing offshore wind projects would not be halted under the new administration.
In response, Burgum said, “I’m not familiar with every project that the Interior has under way, but I’ll certainly be taking a look at all of those and if they make sense and they’re already in law, then they’ll continue.
Trump has been an outspoken critic of wind energy, recently calling windmills an “economic and environmental disaster” in a post on his Truth Social platform. He further stated that he does not want any new wind projects developed during his administration.
However, Burgum acknowledged Trump’s concerns about tax incentives for the renewable energy sector. “I think the key is, and I think President Trump’s been very clear in his statements, that he’s concerned about the significant amount of tax incentives that have gone toward some forms of energy,” he said.
Despite Trump’s skepticism, Burgum also indicated a general openness to renewable energy, stating, “If we can decarbonise traditional fuels cheaper than we can subsidise some of the renewables, then that should be looked at fairly and equitably and economically.” He emphasized the importance of balancing renewable energy development with a secure and reliable energy supply.
Burgum reiterated his support for an “all of the above” energy strategy, highlighting the need to maintain “baseload” energy from fossil fuels, which he argued is more reliable than “intermittent” renewable power sources.
His comments suggest that while the Trump administration may continue to scrutinize renewable energy policies, existing offshore wind projects could proceed if they meet legal and regulatory requirements.
