The Trump administration's latest attack on an offshore wind project could make New England's electricity less reliable and more expensive.
Late last month, the administration halted work on the nearly complete Revolution Wind project off the coast of Rhode Island and Massachusetts, citing dubious "national security" reasons. State governors, labor leaders, and even New England fishermen who voted for Donald Trump oppose the move, which is part of the president's monthslong assault on an energy source central to the Northeast's grid and decarbonization plans.
Should Trump tank the project, it would leave a gaping hole in New England's energy mix, driving up the region's already-high electricity prices and leaving its grid more vulnerable to collapse during winter storms. New England's grid operator has already factored the 704-megawatt wind farm into its plans starting next year. Delaying delivery of that power "will increase risks to reliability," ISO New England warned in a statement last week.
That's not to mention the longer-term disruptions that could stem from killing a project that's followed all the rules and is already about 80% built.
"Unpredictable risks and threats to resources regardless of technology that have made significant capital investments, secured necessary permits, and are close to completion will stifle future investments, increase costs to consumers, and undermine the power grid's reliability and the region's economy now and in the future," ISO New England said in the statement.
