Since assuming office in January, President Trump has taken decisive steps to impede the burgeoning offshore wind industry in the United States, fulfilling a campaign pledge that has sent shockwaves through developers and coastal communities alike. The administration's actions, including halting all federal permitting for new projects and issuing a stop-work order to an offshore wind farm under construction off the coast of New York this week, have injected a significant degree of uncertainty into a sector brimming with potential for economic growth, job creation, and clean energy production.

These policy shifts have had an immediate chilling effect on the industry. Several major wind developers have announced delays or outright pauses to their planned projects, citing the unpredictable regulatory landscape created by the federal government's stance. This reticence threatens to derail the momentum that the offshore wind sector had been steadily building, particularly in regions like New England, which boasts some of the most favorable wind resources in the world.

Despite the headwinds emanating from Washington, D.C., New England currently hosts two large offshore wind projects that are under active construction. Furthermore, a pioneering project completed last year off the coast of Long Island continues to feed clean electricity into the grid, demonstrating the tangible benefits of offshore wind technology. However, the president's recent policies are casting a long shadow of doubt over the future viability and expansion of these crucial initiatives.

The potential cessation of these projects would deliver a particularly harsh blow to Massachusetts, a state that has made substantial investments in offshore wind energy as a cornerstone of its economic and environmental strategy. Massachusetts views offshore wind as a key driver for job creation, a critical tool for reducing climate-altering pollution, and a vital source of clean power to fuel its future economy. The state's commitment reflects a broader understanding of the long-term advantages of transitioning to renewable energy sources.

To gain a deeper understanding of the tangible impacts of the offshore wind industry and the anxieties surrounding its future in this uncertain political climate, reporters from the New England News Collaborative visited three key communities in the region: Martha’s Vineyard, New Bedford, and Salem. Their on-the-ground reporting provides valuable insights into the real-world consequences of the Trump administration's policies and the hopes that still persist for a thriving offshore wind sector.

Martha’s Vineyard: A Budding Industry Navigates Uncertainty

In Vineyard Haven, the main port of Martha’s Vineyard, the persistent cold rain mirrors the apprehension felt by some in the local community. Richard Andre, a leader of the nonprofit Vineyard Power, stands overlooking a newly constructed pier, a vital piece of infrastructure built to support the work boats servicing Vineyard Wind, the first commercial-scale offshore wind farm slated to deliver power to Massachusetts.

Vineyard Power played a crucial role in garnering local support for the ambitious wind farm project. The development promised the creation of 90 jobs on the island, a significant economic boost for the community of approximately 4,800 residents. Andre reports that around a dozen of these positions have already been filled by islanders, with expectations for further local hires as experienced wind technicians from outside the state train local residents to eventually take over these specialized roles. This phased approach to workforce development ensures long-term benefits for the community.

Construction of the Vineyard Wind project, located 15 miles south of Martha’s Vineyard, commenced in 2023 and is currently ongoing. The project entails the installation of a total of 62 wind turbines, which, upon completion, are projected to generate enough clean electricity to power more than 400,000 homes. This substantial energy output underscores the significant contribution that offshore wind can make to the region's energy independence and sustainability goals.

Beyond direct job creation, Andre highlights the broader economic benefits that Vineyard Wind has brought to the island. Local businesses are capitalizing on the project by providing essential services, such as a catering company that prepares meals for the offshore workers. Moreover, the wind farm has injected a new sense of dynamism into the waterfront area, fostering the growth of maritime-related industries.

Andre points out that despite decades of zoning regulations intended to protect maritime uses, the high cost of real estate on Martha’s Vineyard had previously deterred significant investment in the working waterfront. The arrival of the offshore wind industry has effectively reversed this trend, providing the first substantial investment in this crucial sector of the local economy in a long time. This development is met with considerable enthusiasm by many in the community who recognize the long-term potential for economic diversification and resilience.

Crucially, because the Vineyard Wind project is already under construction, it has so far been shielded from the immediate impacts of President Trump’s ban on federal permitting for new projects. However, the administration's clear opposition to offshore wind development has seemingly created an atmosphere of caution among stakeholders.

Notably, Vineyard Wind has refrained from issuing any press releases since the recent election, and the company declined to provide comments or confirm any details for this news report. Similarly, the local catering company servicing the project also declined to be interviewed, suggesting a level of unease surrounding the current political climate.

Despite the potential encouragement that the Trump administration's stance may provide to offshore wind opponents, the prevailing sentiment on Martha’s Vineyard appears to be one of quiet determination to continue the work already underway, weathering the political storm like the persistent rain falling on the island.

New Bedford: A City Embracing the Promise of a New Industry

The opening of the New Bedford Harbor Hotel six years ago was perceived by many as a calculated risk. The owners established a 70-room boutique hotel in a neighborhood characterized by vacant storefronts and underutilized buildings. However, General Manager Kim O’Keefe explains that their optimism was largely fueled by the anticipated arrival of the offshore wind industry.

“We knew it was coming. We were starting to get excited, but it had been pushed off multiple times, so it was sort of like, ‘hold your breath and wait,’” O’Keefe recalls, highlighting the years of anticipation surrounding the development of the offshore wind sector in the region.

State officials had long identified New Bedford as a prime location to become a central hub for offshore wind construction and deployment. This vision finally materialized in the spring of 2023 when massive wind turbine components, some taller than skyscrapers, began arriving in the city's port. O’Keefe notes that the hotel experienced a near doubling of reservation numbers during that season, directly attributable to the influx of wind industry professionals.

The offshore wind industry has introduced a new and valuable clientele to downtown New Bedford. European engineers and executives involved in the projects frequently stay at the hotel, as do federal employees responsible for regulating the burgeoning industry. Construction workers involved in the Vineyard Wind project have also become regular guests, contributing significantly to the local economy.

“We refer to them as the wind guys,” O’Keefe says with a smile. “Sometimes I'll have a group of 30 guys kind of sitting around the lobby area because they're waiting on a helicopter to go out to sea… It's just a really fun dynamic. They are a great group.” This anecdote illustrates the tangible human impact of the industry, bringing new faces and energy to the city.

However, O’Keefe notes that the initial surge in visitors has begun to subside as the Vineyard Wind project progresses towards completion and as President Trump's administration stalls permits for future offshore wind farms. This slowdown has created uncertainty about whether New Bedford will witness a second wave of wind energy development in the near future.

“We're a little nervous with the current situation, so we're hoping to see it continue to grow in the right direction. It was a huge impact on New Bedford, and we want to see that continue,” O’Keefe emphasizes, underscoring the economic significance of the offshore wind industry for the city's revitalization.

Closer to the waterfront, other businesses have also experienced a positive impact. Shipyards are reporting increased repair work on vessels supporting the offshore operations, and fuel businesses are seeing a rise in sales. However, there is a palpable concern that this economic uplift could dissipate in a matter of months if new projects are not permitted to move forward, potentially leaving New Bedford as if the offshore wind boom had never occurred. The long-term sustainability of these local economic benefits hinges on the continued growth of the offshore wind sector.

Salem: Harboring Hopes for a Clean Energy Future

While Salem is globally recognized as the Halloween capital of Massachusetts, many in this historic community north of Boston are aspiring to add another significant distinction to the city's identity: the home of the first pier in the state capable of staging floating wind turbines. This ambitious project represents a forward-looking vision for Salem's economic and environmental future.

The proposed Salem Offshore Wind Terminal is slated for construction on a 42-acre site adjacent to Salem Harbor, strategically located between a large natural gas power plant and a ferry terminal. This location symbolizes the city's potential transition from traditional energy sources to cleaner alternatives.

Currently, the site appears unremarkable – a large, overgrown field dotted with rocks. However, Bonnie Bain, executive director of the nonprofit Salem Alliance for the Environment, envisions a vibrant and bustling wind port when she looks out over the area.

“You would see offshore wind components,” she describes, painting a picture of the massive scale of the industry, including “football field-length blades and the steel cylinders that comprise the turbine tower. You’d see an electric crane, ships in the port — a really active wind marshaling facility.”

For Bain, this particular parcel of land carries significant symbolic weight, representing a larger narrative of transitioning away from polluting fossil fuels towards cleaner energy solutions. The site's history underscores this transformation.

Beginning in 1951, the location housed one of the largest coal-fired power plants in the region, the Salem Harbor Power Station. This facility, notorious as one of the state's “filthy five” most significant polluters, contributed to respiratory problems and other health issues for nearby residents. The coal plant was finally shuttered in 2014, marking a turning point for the community's environmental health.

Since then, a smaller and less polluting natural gas plant has operated on a portion of the property, while the remainder has remained vacant. Now, this underutilized land is poised to become a crucial element in the state's shift towards renewable energy.

The development of the offshore wind pier is projected to generate millions of dollars in local tax revenue over several decades and create hundreds of jobs in construction and turbine assembly – contingent, of course, on the project moving forward. This economic potential represents a significant opportunity for Salem's future prosperity.

However, the pier project is already facing delays, and the recent actions of the Trump administration have cast a pall of uncertainty over its future.

“The sense that I'm getting is that everyone's sort of taking a pause and taking it all in and trying to understand the landscape because things have been happening so rapidly,” Bain observes, highlighting the industry's struggle to adapt to the shifting political winds.

Crowley Wind Services, the company spearheading the development of the Salem Offshore Wind Terminal, declined a formal interview request but stated in an email that the necessary financing is secured and that the pier is anticipated to be operational by 2027. This timeline, however, remains subject to the broader regulatory environment.

Salem Mayor Dominick Pangallo remains optimistic about the project's future. Growing up near the former coal plant, he vividly recalls the days when coal dust would blanket the neighborhood, underscoring the community's historical burden of fossil fuel pollution. He is enthusiastic about the prospect of a renewable energy facility on the same site, which promises both environmental and economic benefits for Salem.

“Salem has a deep and powerful connection to the ocean, and a legacy of using that connection to further our own economy and to better the lives of the people who live here,” Mayor Pangallo emphasizes. “There are challenges now for sure. We see them as speed bumps, not roadblocks though.”

Acknowledging the unpredictable nature of the next four years, Mayor Pangallo is focusing on the long-term vision for Salem. He firmly believes that over the next four decades, Salem will play a significant role in a robust offshore wind industry, not only in Massachusetts but across the wider region. His perspective reflects a commitment to a sustainable and economically vibrant future for the city, rooted in its maritime heritage and embracing the potential of renewable energy.

The experiences and perspectives shared by the communities of Martha’s Vineyard, New Bedford, and Salem underscore the significant promise and growing anxieties surrounding the offshore wind industry in New England. While existing projects demonstrate the tangible benefits of clean energy and economic development, the Trump administration's policies are creating a climate of uncertainty that threatens to stifle the industry's potential. The future of offshore wind in the region hinges on navigating these political headwinds and ensuring that the momentum built in recent years is not lost, paving the way for a sustainable and prosperous energy future.