Full Breakdown
Trump’s Ongoing Campaign to Halt U.S. Wind Power Development
7/11/2026, 12:46:51 AM
Overview of Recent Anti-Wind Actions
Commentators at *The New Republic* have detailed a series of moves by former President Donald Trump and his allies aimed at stopping new wind-energy projects across the United States. After the Biden administration’s 2022 Inflation Reduction Act injected billions of federal loans, tax credits, and grants into wind power, Trump revived his long-standing opposition—first by signing an executive order on his second-term inauguration that froze both on-shore and off-shore wind permits, and later by influencing Interior Department procedures that effectively block approvals.
Historical Context of Trump’s Opposition
Trump’s animus toward wind turbines dates back to a dispute over turbines near his Turnberry golf resort in Scotland. That personal grievance has translated into a broader policy stance, with the former president repeatedly describing wind farms as undesirable and pledging to prevent their construction.
Official Statements & Administrative Responses
- Donald Trump (March): “We have not approved one windmill since I’ve been in office. And we’re going to keep it that way. My goal is to not let any windmill be built.”
- Doug Burgum, Secretary of the Interior (2023): Stated that he would need to personally approve any federal solar or wind permit, a requirement that has stalled national projects.
- Legal Outcome: The administration abandoned its defense of the 2021 executive order in June, allowing the order to lapse without further court challenge.
Impact on Wind Projects
Since Burgum’s policy shift, no new wind turbines have received federal approval under the current administration. To satisfy Trump’s anti-wind agenda, the federal government has begun purchasing the interests of developers and companies poised to build wind facilities, effectively removing them from the market. This buying-out strategy, combined with the lack of permit approvals, has halted the momentum generated by the Inflation Reduction Act’s wind-energy incentives.
