Tariffs proposed by President Trump could raise the cost of building wind power projects in the U.S., threatening the already fragile momentum of the renewable energy sector.
Stanley Reed reports for The New York Times.
In short:
- President Trump’s planned tariffs on imported goods could increase the cost of wind turbines on land by 10% and renewable energy projects by 7%, according to analyst Endri Lico.
- Many wind turbine components are sourced internationally, and the new tariffs could disrupt supply chains and drive up electricity prices.
- With only a few offshore wind projects expected to move forward and investor confidence shaken, states may fall short of clean energy targets.
Why this matters:
As wind energy takes off across the U.S., supply chain turbulence is emerging as a serious headwind. The nation’s growing appetite for clean electricity—driven by rising demand from electric vehicles, AI-powered data centers, and state-level decarbonization mandates—has elevated wind power as a cornerstone of the energy transition. But the industry’s reliance on global suppliers for everything from turbines to specialized ship components leaves it vulnerable to tariffs, shipping delays, and geopolitical instability. Even as the Inflation Reduction Act offers unprecedented incentives to accelerate domestic renewables, the U.S. manufacturing base has struggled to scale up in time, pushing costs higher.
