These politically motivated moves are costing Americans far more than just the buyouts Published May 9, 2026 6:30AM (EDT) Offshore wind farm at Block Island, Rhode Island. (Mark Harrington/Newsday RM via Getty Images) This article was originally published on The Conversation . The U.S. is in a bizarre situation in 2026: It’s facing a looming energy shortage , yet the Trump administration is making deals to pay offshore wind developers nearly US$2 billion in taxpayer money to walk away from energy projects. These politically motivated moves are costing Americans far more than just the buyouts. Communities have been laying the groundwork for offshore energy projects for years. Offshore wind development brings jobs and economic development that reshape regional economies, with the scale of public and private investment reaching into the hundreds of billions of dollars over years. East Coast communities have built up ports to support the industry and launched job-training programs to prepare workers.…