The Trump administration’s directive to ban oil and gas extraction off the coasts of Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas would bar wind energy development as well, according to reports. The move comes as offshore wind energy developers are investing hundreds of millions of dollars for the right to build wind farms along the East Coast. Trump also said his administration would extend the offshore energy ban to include waters off the coast of Virginia, but would reverse the ban if it was unpopular. No official directive had been issued as of Monday evening. Existing leases are not directly affected by the orders but are expected to stymie offshore renewable energy development in the region. The move was harshly criticized by renewable energy developers who said banning offshore wind development threatened tens of thousands of jobs and billions of dollars of economic investment. (Bloomberg $, Politico Pro $; Trump comments: E&E $)