US Department of Transportation Halts Funding for 12 Offshore Wind Projects

[New York=Lee Byung-chul Correspondent] The US Department of Transportation announced on the 29th (local time) that it would withdraw federal funding of $679 million (approximately 910 billion won) allocated to support offshore wind development. This measure targets 12 projects underway in areas such as California, New Jersey, and Virginia.
 Major cuts include the renovation of the offshore terminal in Humboldt County, California ($427 million), the Staten Island port in New York ($48 million), the port near Norfolk, Virginia ($39 million), and the Paulsboro terminal in New Jersey ($20 million). These projects were intended to serve as bases for assembling and deploying large floating wind turbines.
 Sean Duffy, Secretary of Transportation, stated, "The wind projects are wasteful and divert resources that could revive the American maritime industry," adding that "the funds will be reallocated to other port improvements."
 President Trump has consistently opposed wind power development, including opposing new offshore wind approvals on his first day in office. Recently, he has faced criticism for halting the construction of the $6.2 billion 'Revolution Wind' project in Rhode Island, causing concerns about regional power supply instability.

pride@fnnews.com Lee Byung-chul Reporter