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The Biden administration has discreetly approved a request from an energy company involved in an offshore wind project off the Massachusetts coast to waive development fees aimed at protecting taxpayers, as per internal documents examined by Fox News Digital.
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) informed Vineyard Wind about the waiver in a letter dated June 15, 2021, obtained by watchdog group Protect the Public’s Trust (PPT). This move has raised questions about the transparency and behavior of Biden during his vice-presidential tenure.
The FOIA request, filed by the Heritage Foundation, sought records related to the creation and use of Biden’s pseudonym emails, including aliases like ‘Robin Ware’, ‘JRB Ware’, and ‘Robert L. Peters’ used during his vice presidency.
This development comes at a time when the Biden administration faces scrutiny for various reasons, including accusations of obstructing the House’s impeachment probe by withholding emails, some of which were written under aliases. The identified documents could offer insights into Biden’s communication practices and their alignment with legal and ethical standards.
The watchdog group PPT pointed out the potential conflict of interest involving former Deputy Interior Secretary Tommy Beadreau, who, according to his 2021 financial disclosure form, represented Vineyard Wind on legal matters while at the firm Latham & Watkins. Beadreau departed the firm a week after BOEM approved the waiver and was sworn in at the Department of the Interior.
The internal documents revealed that Vineyard Wind wouldn’t be required to pay the development fee until 15 years after the project enters operations under its 20-year power purchase agreements. The waiver was granted due to risk reduction factors and other considerations outlined by BOEM. Critics argue that such decisions raise concerns about the administration’s commitment to transparency and ethical standards.
