On Labor Day, five U.S. governors issued a joint statement urging the Trump administration to uphold permits already granted for offshore wind projects, warning that rolling them back would jeopardize thousands of jobs and billions in private investment tied to the nation’s clean energy transition.

According to the governors, more than 5,000 workers — many of them union members — are currently employed in building offshore wind infrastructure, while thousands more across 40 states manufacture components for the growing industry. They stressed that these projects represent years of planning, substantial capital investment, and the promise of tens of thousands of future jobs.

“We are asking the Trump administration to uphold all offshore wind permits already granted and allow these projects to be constructed. Walking back these commitments puts hardworking families at risk, wastes years of progress, and cedes leadership to foreign competitors,” the governors said in their statement.

They also cautioned that canceling fully permitted projects — some near completion — would undermine investor confidence, disrupt supply chains, and create uncertainty across multiple sectors. Such reversals, they argued, could drive up financing costs and ultimately burden taxpayers.

Strong support from labor unions

The governors’ position was echoed by labor leaders in Massachusetts.

On the one hand, Chrissy Lynch, president of the Massachusetts AFL-CIO, said offshore wind is already creating thousands of union construction jobs while helping lower utility costs: “Any disruption to these projects threatens to put our neighbors, friends, and family members out of work. We need these jobs, and we need offshore wind to keep energy affordable for the working class.”

For his part, Joe Byrne, executive secretary-treasurer of the North Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters, added: “Stopping any of these projects would mean lost paychecks for workers, higher costs for everyone, and a tremendous risk to long-term job opportunities and economic activity. We thank Governor Healey and her fellow governors for standing up for workers this Labor Day.”

A call for a diversified energy future

The governors also emphasized their commitment to a reliable and affordable electric grid powered by a diverse energy mix — including offshore wind, nuclear, natural gas, hydropower, and emerging technologies. They argued that this approach will strengthen U.S. energy security, attract major economic development, and transform local communities as the country moves toward a 21st-century economy.

The joint statement closed with a reaffirmation of support for American workers and unions: “We stand with America’s workers and strongly urge the Trump administration to keep these projects on track — for our jobs, our families, our competitiveness, our energy security, and our future.”