NH legislature votes to halt offshore wind development in wake of Trump executive order

New Hampshire's House of Representatives has voted to roll back offshore wind development in the state, and Donald Trump's executive order halting new federal offshore wind leases is being cited as the primary reason.

HB 682 just passed through the State House of Representatives 206-163, mostly along party lines.

The legislation would remove "offshore wind industry development" from the Office of Offshore Wind Industry Development and Energy Innovation.

Additionally, it would repeal the Offshore Wind Industry Workforce Training Center Committee and the Offshore and Port Development Commission.

Trump's executive order does not put a stop to wind farms that have already gone through the federal permitting process, but it does suspend "the sale of offshore wind leases and the permitting for such projects from all areas of the U.S. outer continental shelf, pending an environmental and economic review."

All House Republicans who were present voted for the legislation.

"The repeal of the Office of Offshore Wind Industry Development and its associated commissions ensures that taxpayer dollars are not wasted on speculative and intrusive offshore wind projects that threaten the Gulf of New Hampshire," New Hampshire House deputy majority leader Rep. Joe Sweeney, a Republican from Salem, said in a statement. "This bill is a necessary step in refocusing New Hampshire’s energy strategy on practical, cost-effective solutions that benefit our residents and protect our natural resources."