The US Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has rescinded all designated wind energy areas (WEAs) on the US Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). This action aligns with Secretary’s Order 3437 and the Presidential Memorandum dated January 20, 2025, which temporarily withdraws all areas on the OCS from offshore wind leasing and calls for a review of the federal government’s leasing and permitting practices for wind projects.
WEAs were initially identified as locations most suitable for offshore wind energy development. With this action, BOEM has cancelled over 3.5 million acres of unleased federal waters that had been earmarked for wind energy projects across the Gulf of America, Gulf of Maine, the New York Bight, California, Oregon, and the Central Atlantic.
In July 2025, the US Senate approved the One Big Beautiful Bill, accelerating the phase-out of wind and solar tax credits for projects starting after June 2026 and operational beyond 2027.
