Former President Donald Trump has long criticized wind energy, calling turbines unsightly, dangerous to wildlife, and too expensive. Just hours after resuming power on January 20, he threatened to undo decades of progress in the industry.
“We’re not going to do the wind thing,” Trump declared as he returned to the Oval Office. He signed a series of executive orders that have thrown the sector into crisis, describing wind turbines as “big, ugly windmills” that “kill your birds, and they ruin your beautiful landscape.” Among the measures was a temporary freeze on federal permitting and loans for all offshore and onshore wind projects.
Jason Grumet, president of the American Clean Power Association (ACP), quickly condemned the move, stating it “increases bureaucratic barriers, undermining domestic energy development and harming American businesses and workers.”
Following the announcements, wind-related stocks plummeted. Elizabeth Wilson, an offshore wind specialist at Dartmouth University, noted the “cooling effect” on the sector, with developers already backing away from some projects.
Trump’s actions come amid a declared “national energy emergency,” leading some observers to note a contradiction in his assault on wind energy. In 2023, wind energy accounted for about 10% of US electricity production, more than twice as much as solar. Onshore wind power is also relatively inexpensive, with the price per megawatt-hour ranging from $27 to $73 in 2024, far less than nuclear or coal.
Ember, an energy think tank, warned on January 23 that the United States “risks being left behind in the clean industrial revolution” as major economies like China increasingly embrace wind as a source of cheap, clean electricity.
The long-term effects of Trump’s actions on the sector remain uncertain. The offshore wind industry, still in its infancy in the US, is likely to be the hardest hit, as most exploitable marine areas are in federal waters subject to Trump’s measures. However, most onshore development occurs on private lands, where the federal government has little control.
Days before taking office, Trump wrote on his Truth Social media platform: “I don’t want even one (windmill) built during my Administration.” This pledge has spooked the sector, which fears he could permanently block subsidies or environmental approvals needed for certain projects. Such moves would likely face court challenges and political backlash.
“Ninety-nine percent of onshore wind power projects are on private lands, and the private landowners generally like these wind farms, and they get a lot of economic benefit from them,” said Michigan Technological University professor emeritus Barry Solomon. He noted that the projects are largely in Republican-led states such as Texas, Oklahoma, Iowa, Kansas, and the Dakotas.
The ACP also warned that restricting wind development would “increase consumer energy bills.” Despite the headwinds, some experts remain optimistic. University of Delaware professor Jeremy Firestone said, “Ultimately… the economics is driving the desire for wind and solar.” With artificial intelligence, he added, energy needs “are increasing a great deal. So there’s going to be a lot of pressure to continue to build out wind turbines.”