With new Governor, New Hampshire House votes to roll back offshore wind‬ 

Citing President Donald Trump’s executive order halting new federal offshore wind leases, the New Hampshire House voted Thursday to roll back offshore wind development in the state.

HB 682 would remove “offshore wind industry development” from the Office of Offshore Wind Industry Development and Energy Innovation. It would also repeal the Offshore Wind Industry Workforce Training Center Committee and the Offshore and Port Development Commission.

The legislation passed the House 206-163 largely along party lines.

What is Trump’s offshore wind executive order?

Trump’s executive order, signed Jan. 20, suspends 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.

However, it does not put a stop to wind farms that have already gone through the federal permitting process.
House Republicans celebrate offshore wind bill, Democrats warn about climate change

All House Republicans present Thursday 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,” said House deputy majority leader Rep. Joe Sweeney, R-Salem, 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.”

Along with cost, House Republicans cited harm to the ocean life as a reason for their opposition to offshore wind.

“After the President’s executive order to eliminate offshore wind and turbines this bill seeks to avoid the destruction of nearby fisheries, lobster, shellfish, and whales,” wrote Rep. James Summer, R-Newton. “Offshore wind is more expensive and destructive than any other renewable energy source.”

But Rep. Wendy Thomas, D-Merrimack, argued Thursday that offshore wind is crucial for addressing the threat of climate change, saying that the warming of the Gulf of Maine is impacting ocean life more than any wind turbines are.

“There is no known links between large whale deaths and ongoing offshore wind activities,” Thomas said. “Here’s the thing, if you are truly concerned about whales, then you would do something about climate change.”

She said while the technology is expensive now, it’s improving, and that wind power offers an economic stimulus in the state through clean energy jobs.

Is there offshore wind in New Hampshire?

In October, the federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management awarded two companies the right to submit project plans for four wind lease areas in the Gulf of Maine in an auction.

However, the future of these projects is unclear after Trump’s order.

What happens next?

The bill next heads to the Senate, which is controlled by Republicans, before heading to the governor’s desk.

While former Gov. Chris Sununu was friendly to offshore wind development, new Gov. Kelly Ayotte has said that she believes that it isn’t right for the state.