Clean Energy Investment Faces Political Headwinds
The Prysmian Group has ended plans to build a subsea power cable factory at Brayton Point in Somerset, Massachusetts. The $300 million project would have produced high-voltage cables to support the growing offshore wind industry in the United States.
Local reports revealed that Prysmian announced the decision just two days before Donald Trump took office in January 2017. The company spent more than two years securing permits. In a short statement, Prysmian said it “continuously evaluates market opportunities” to align capacity and investment efficiency. The company did not mention politics but many observers linked the move to coming policy changes.
Prysmian Group Massachusetts Subsea Cable Project Would Have Supported Offshore Wind Growth
The planned factory would have produced submarine inter-array and export cables up to 275 kV AC and 525 kV DC. These cables would have connected offshore wind farms to power grids along the U.S. coast. The facility could have supported President Joe Biden’s 2030 goal of developing 30 GW of offshore wind power, as stated in Prysmian’s project outline.
In 2022, President Biden visited the former Brayton Point coal site to promote his administration’s clean energy transition. He used the location to illustrate how renewable industries can replace fossil fuel jobs and strengthen local economies.
Political Shifts and Industry Reaction
Many energy experts linked the cancellation to uncertainty created by federal energy policy shifts. Massachusetts Congressman Jake Auchincloss called the decision “disappointing,” saying it reversed valuable job opportunities. He added that Trump’s threats to freeze offshore wind projects caused companies to delay or cancel major investments.
On his first day in office, President Trump signed an order pausing offshore wind lease sales and slowing approvals for renewable energy projects on federal land and waters. These actions temporarily stalled new investments and created hesitation across the clean energy sector.
Global Outlook After the Prysmian Group Massachusetts Subsea Cable Project Cancellation
While Prysmian’s decision marked a setback for Massachusetts’ renewable ambitions, the company continues to supply subsea and high-voltage cable systems for clean energy projects worldwide. Its global operations remain vital to advancing offshore wind and energy transmission infrastructure across Europe, Asia, and the Americas.
For the U.S., the Brayton Point reversal highlights how shifts in national energy policy can influence investment decisions and the pace of the clean energy transition.
