Congressman Christopher H. Smith, District 4 | Official U.S. House headshot
Congressman Christopher H. Smith, District 4 | Official U.S. House headshot
A series of meetings related to an offshore wind project were canceled following U.S. Rep. Chris Smith's intervention. The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) had initially planned these meetings despite an executive order from President Donald Trump halting such projects pending further study.
The meetings were to discuss the Vineyard Mid-Atlantic project, part of six lease areas within the New York Bight, situated between Long Island and coastal New Jersey. Although the project's turbines would likely not be visible from shore, there were concerns about its impact on marine life and fishing grounds.
Rep. Smith questioned BOEM's decision to proceed with public hearings in a letter dated January 29, highlighting Trump's January 20 executive order which paused the offshore wind approval process due to "potential inadequacies in various environmental reviews."
Despite announcing plans for an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on January 15, just before Trump's inauguration, BOEM did not initially cancel the meetings or halt work on the EIS. However, they eventually canceled the meetings scheduled for February 6, 11, and 19 in response to Smith's inquiry.
"Given President Trump’s actions," Smith wrote, "I wish to confirm that the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) does not intend to continue with the already questionable approval process for proposed offshore wind projects until or if the pause is released."
Smith expressed gratitude for Trump's executive order: “We are grateful to President Trump for his insightful executive order and his decisive action today ensuring that BOEM complies with it." He criticized BOEM's previous efforts as disregarding local concerns and national security issues.
In recent months, Smith has advocated for further examination of offshore wind projects due to national security implications. His legislation requiring presidential certification that such projects would not compromise radar capabilities passed in the House but stalled in a Democrat-controlled Senate.
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