Texas Blocks Offshore Wind Amid Political Hostility

A handful of well-placed political opponents have prevented offshore wind development in the Gulf of Mexico, despite the state's leadership in onshore wind energy.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 11:30am

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A minimalist abstract illustration featuring bold geometric shapes in primary colors, representing the conflict between Texas' onshore wind energy leadership and its political opposition to offshore wind development.Texas' political resistance to offshore wind development despite its onshore wind energy dominance highlights the ongoing tensions between fossil fuel interests and the transition to clean energy.Galveston Today

Texas state officials have led a successful and concerted effort to prevent offshore wind developments in the Gulf of Mexico, signaling to investors that approvals would be unlikely. This has resulted in no offshore wind projects being operational or underway off the Texas coast, despite the state's experience in offshore energy and the potential for significant offshore wind capacity in the region.

Why it matters

Texas leads the nation in wind energy production, but the lack of offshore wind development means the state is missing out on a significant opportunity to further expand its renewable energy portfolio and reduce its carbon footprint. The political opposition to offshore wind also highlights the ongoing tensions between fossil fuel interests and the transition to clean energy in the state.

The details

In 2023, the Biden administration put up three federal leases for bid in the Gulf of Mexico to build wind farms, including two off the Texas coast. However, the Texas leases received no bids, in part due to political hostility from state leaders like General Land Office Commissioner Dawn Buckingham and Railroad Commission of Texas leader Wayne Christian, who expressed concerns about the impact on the state's fossil fuel industry and coastal communities. Meanwhile, the Louisiana lease sold for $5.6 million, as the state's leadership welcomed the investment. Texas legislators have also introduced bills to make it difficult to build offshore wind farms in the state.

  • In August 2023, the Biden administration put up three federal leases for bid in the Gulf of Mexico to build wind farms.
  • In the 2023 legislative session, nearly a dozen bills were introduced in Texas to curb the expansion of renewable energy, including one that would make it extremely difficult to build offshore wind farms.
  • In September 2024, Texas General Land Office Commissioner Dawn Buckingham wrote to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, reminding the agency that access to underwater land for transmission lines required an easement she could approve or deny.

The players

Dawn Buckingham

The Texas General Land Office Commissioner, who has signaled that she would not grant the necessary approvals for an offshore wind farm to commence construction.

Wayne Christian

A leader of the Railroad Commission of Texas, the state's oil and gas regulator, who wrote to the governor and Buckingham expressing concerns about the impact of offshore wind farms on the state's fossil fuel industry and coastal communities.

Mayes Middleton

A Republican state senator from Galveston who sponsored a bill aiming to ban offshore wind in Texas and said he would refile the bill in the following session to ensure there would never be offshore wind in the state.

Elizabeth Nyman

An associate professor of maritime studies at Texas A&M University at Galveston, who found in a 2025 poll that 71% of Texans support wind development off the state's coast.

Deborah Long

The spokesperson for the Southern Shrimp Alliance, which represents the shrimping industry across eight states and was concerned about the impact of offshore wind construction and operation in the Gulf of Mexico.

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What they’re saying

“Something must be done to stop President Biden from implementing these wind farms in the Gulf of Mexico.”

— Wayne Christian, Leader of the Railroad Commission of Texas

“I can assure you that when weighing the interests, I will do so objectively and without being influenced by 'green' policy goals.”

— Dawn Buckingham, Texas General Land Office Commissioner

“At the end of the day, Texans deserve energy that is dependable, affordable, and grounded in reality—not policies driven by ideology.”

— Wayne Christian, Leader of the Railroad Commission of Texas

What’s next

The Biden administration is considering another sale of federal leases for offshore wind in the Gulf of Mexico, but the Texas General Land Office has indicated it may condition approval on heightened bond and financial assurance measures.

The takeaway

The lack of offshore wind development in Texas, despite the state's leadership in onshore wind energy, highlights the political opposition from state officials who are prioritizing the interests of the fossil fuel industry over the potential benefits of renewable energy. This raises questions about the state's ability to transition to a more diverse and sustainable energy mix in the face of growing demand and the need to address climate change.