President Trump said his administration will stop approving wind energy projects, citing aesthetic concerns and a belief they harm the country.
Rachel Frazin reports for The Hill.
In short:
- During a speech opposing California’s planned phaseout of gas-powered cars, President Trump declared he would not allow wind turbines to be built except in emergencies.
- Trump described wind turbines as “garbage” and claimed they mar the natural landscape.
- An executive order currently pauses new wind project approvals while the government reviews wind permitting; no timeline has been set for completing that assessment.
Key quote:
“We’re not going to approve windmills unless something happens that’s an emergency. I guess it could happen, but we’re not doing any of them.”
— Donald Trump
Why this matters:
Wind energy is one of the fastest-growing sources of renewable power in the United States, providing a crucial alternative to fossil fuels. Turbines produce no air or water pollution during operation, and their growth has helped reduce greenhouse gas emissions, especially in rural areas where they’re often sited. Blocking their development could stall progress on decarbonizing the electric grid, increase reliance on coal and gas, and worsen public health outcomes linked to air pollution. Beyond emissions, the policy shift could also affect thousands of jobs tied to the wind sector and disrupt state-level clean energy goals. With climate change accelerating and extreme weather events becoming more common, limiting renewable energy projects raises concerns about both environmental and energy resilience.
Related: Trump's energy council shifts federal focus to fossil fuels over clean energy
