The US Department of Transportation has terminated or withdrawn $679m in funding for 12 offshore wind projects.

In a statement, US Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy said that the department believes that the “fantasy” wind projects were “doomed.”

The Department of Transportation has withdrawn one project in the Nationally Significant Freight and Highway Projects program, resulting in a total retraction of roughly $427m. The entire sum was previously awarded to the Humboldt Bay offshore wind project.

The Maritime Administration has withdrawn six projects and terminated five within its Port Infrastructure Development Program, resulting in a total retraction of $177m and roughly $75 million, respectively. 

“Wasteful wind projects are using resources that could otherwise go towards revitalising America’s maritime industry. Joe Biden and Pete Buttigieg bent over backwards to use transportation dollars for their Green New Scam agenda. […] we are prioritising real infrastructure improvements over fantasy wind projects that cost much and offer little,” Duffy said.

According to the department, the Trump administration has placed its focus on rebuilding the country’s shipbuilding capacity and unleashing “more reliable, traditional forms of energy”. 

Where possible, funding from these offshore wind projects will be used to address port upgrades and other core infrastructure needs of the United States.