As Congress advances permitting reform legislation to accelerate federal energy projects, Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-2nd) and fellow Republicans have secured an amendment ensuring the bill does not prevent the Trump administration from canceling Biden-era offshore wind projects.
The Streamlining Procurement for Effective Execution and Delivery (SPEED) Act is a bill intended to overhaul and expedite the federal permitting process and is intended to make government approvals more efficient. Van Drew and others have secured a key amendment to the bill aimed at addressing his long-standing opposition to offshore wind development off the New Jersey coast, Van Drew announced in a Dec. 17 press release.
Van Drew supports permitting reform broadly, but he raised concerns that the bill’s earlier language would have shielded offshore wind projects approved under the Biden administration from future review or reversal.
“I support real permitting reform, and the SPEED Act does a lot of good things to unleash our energy potential,” Van Drew said. “But as it was previously written, it would have permanently protected offshore wind projects that were forced through the permitting process under the previous administration.”
Following negotiations with House leadership, Van Drew said an amendment was added ensuring that actions taken to terminate offshore wind permits and leases remain protected under the law. He added that with several offshore wind companies pulling out of projects, lawmakers will continue working with the U.S. Department of the Interior to revoke remaining leases.
“This is a good day for New Jersey and a good day for the Atlantic Ocean,” Van Drew said.
The amendment was introduced by Rep. Andy Harris (R-Md.), and co-sponsored by Van Drew and Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.).
Harris announced the amendment’s inclusion in the SPEED Act following negotiations with House leadership, saying it preserves actions taken by the Trump administration to halt offshore wind development, including projects affecting the Maryland coast. Harris said he worked for months with the House Natural Resources Committee to ensure the amendment’s language was included.
“I am happy to have worked to deliver a real conservative permitting reform bill that preserves the Trump administration’s fight to stop offshore wind,” Harris said. “My constituents in Ocean City, (Md.), and communities across the Atlantic coastline are not for sale.”
The amendment follows a Dec. 5 letter sent to President Donald Trump by Smith, Harris and Van Drew, warning that the SPEED Act, as originally drafted, could limit the executive branch’s authority to revisit or reverse previously approved projects — including offshore wind developments — even if new scientific or environmental evidence emerged.
In their letter, the lawmakers argued that the bill would prevent federal agencies from asking courts to reconsider or cancel permits without the project developers’ approval, which could allow delayed offshore wind projects to restart.
They also criticized Democratic lawmakers who supported provisions designed to protect previously permitted renewable energy projects from executive action.
The lawmakers emphasized that while permitting reform is needed to provide certainty for businesses, offshore wind should not be treated the same as established and reliable energy sources. They described offshore wind as an unproven technology that could burden taxpayers and negatively impact coastal communities.
With the adoption of the Harris-Smith-Van Drew amendment, provisions of the SPEED Act will no longer nullify administrative actions taken before the bill’s enactment, preserving the president’s authority to halt offshore wind projects, according to the lawmakers.
The SPEED Act, including the amendment, passed the House on Thursday, Dec. 18, and now awaits consideration in the Senate.
Julia graduated from Rider University in 2024 with a BA in multiplatform journalism and minor in social media strategies. In addition to reporting on local news for Shore Local, she is a social media strategist for small businesses. Connect with her: shorelocaljulia@gmail.com or @juliatrain on Instagram.
