Trumps Tasks Congressman With Writing Executive Order He Could Issue To Halt Offshore Wind

President-elect Donald Trump tasked a New Jersey congressman and vocal critic of offshore wind with writing an executive order he could issue to halt wind energy projects.

Offshore wind is a major part of transitioning to an electric grid powered entirely by sources that don't emit carbon dioxide when generating electricity. The power sector is responsible for nearly a third of the nation's planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions. On the campaign trail, Trump vowed to end the offshore wind industry as soon as he returned to the White House. He wants to boost production of fossil fuels such as oil, natural gas and coal, which cause climate change, in order for the U.S. to have the lowest-cost energy and electricity of any nation in the world, he says.

Republican Rep. Jeff Van Drew said he spoke with Trump by phone about a month ago and urged him to act on his campaign promise.

"I said 'Mr. President, we need to move on this.' He said, 'Yeah, we definitely do. I agree. I'm against them.'" Van Drew said. "He said, 'Write an executive order, get it to my people.'"

Van Drew told The Associated Press Wednesday night that he quickly emailed a draft order to Doug Burgum , Trump's pick to be interior secretary. Van Drew said the draft is written to halt offshore wind development from Rhode Island to Virginia for six months so the incoming interior secretary could review how leases and permits were issued. Van Drew said he believes the approvals did not fully take into account the impact on the fishing industry, tourism, whales or Americans' utility bills, and it's problematic to rely on foreign renewable energy companies building the wind farms.