日本語
한국어
Tiếng Việt
简体中文
President Donald Trump recently voiced strong criticisms against wind power during a Cabinet meeting, labeling it as an overly expensive energy source avoided by “smart” nations. These remarks, made on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, contained several inaccuracies and misleading statements regarding the global and domestic landscape of wind energy. His comments closely followed an executive order signed on Monday aimed at curtailing subsidies for “green” energy initiatives.
An Associated Press investigation delves into the factual basis of these claims.
Claim 1: “Wind is a very expensive form of energy.”
The Facts: Contrary to this assertion, onshore wind power stands as one of the most cost-effective forms of electricity generation. New onshore wind farms are projected to produce electricity for approximately $30 per megawatt-hour. This cost is significantly lower when compared to a new natural gas plant, estimated around $65 per megawatt-hour, or an advanced nuclear reactor, which can exceed $80 per megawatt-hour, according to estimates from the Energy Information Administration (EIA).
Even without tax credits, onshore wind farms generally incur lower construction and operational costs than natural gas plants in most regions of the United States. While natural gas plants offer dispatchable power at any time, wind’s intermittency is a factor in grid management. Offshore wind energy, however, is among the more capital-intensive new power generation sources, estimated at $88 per megawatt-hour by the EIA.
Brendan Pierpont, director of electricity modeling at the nonpartisan think tank Energy Innovation, highlighted that while national electricity rates have seen a decade-long increase, states with substantial onshore wind power adoption – such as Iowa, Kansas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico – have experienced slower rate increases than many other states. For instance, Iowa’s wind energy contribution surged from 15% in 2010 to nearly 60% of its electricity generation by 2023, while its electricity rates rose at a slower pace than 42 other states.
Pierpont emphasized, “Wind should be seen as part of an overall portfolio of electricity system resources and is an important part of keeping costs down.” He noted that while wind power can be expensive if developed in areas with weak wind resources, the U.S. is strategically expanding it in resource-rich regions. Trump’s broader energy policy prioritizes increasing U.S. fossil fuel production, a stance reinforced by his executive order targeting wind and solar tax credits.
Claim 2: Wind turbines are “almost exclusively” made in China, with President Xi Jinping allegedly confirming “very, very few.”
The Facts: China is indeed the global leader in wind turbine manufacturing, responsible for over half of the world’s supply. The nation is also rapidly expanding its domestic installations. A recent Global Energy Monitor report revealed that China has 1.3 terawatts of utility-scale wind and solar capacity under development, capable of generating more electricity than Japan consumed in all of 2023. The report particularly underscored China’s preeminence in the offshore wind sector.
However, Tom Harper, a partner at the global consultancy Baringa, cautioned against a one-sided view of China’s energy strategy. He noted that while coal and gas are still growing in China, the country is concurrently building a diverse portfolio of zero-carbon resources. “The whole narrative that we’re led to believe in the West is that China is building coal plants and that it’s doing nothing for its carbon footprint,” Harper stated, adding that China’s strategy is designed to reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
Claim 3: “If you look at smart countries, they don’t use it.”
The Facts: Global adoption contradicts this claim, with at least 136 countries and territories utilizing wind power for electricity generation, according to the EIA. Many nations are significantly expanding their wind energy capacity. In 2024, the top five markets for wind power were China, the U.S., Brazil, India, and Germany, while Uzbekistan, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia are identified as the next wave of growth.
Ben Backwell, CEO of the Global Wind Energy Council, affirmed that 2024 set another record for wind energy growth, with the industry actively expanding into new regions worldwide. Michael Gerrard, director of the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law at Columbia University, strongly refuted the idea that “smart countries” shun wind power. He pointed to China’s massive wind power development efforts, alongside extensive wind construction programs in Germany, the United Kingdom, Finland, Spain, Sweden, France, and numerous other European nations.
Gerrard cautioned, “By cutting back on wind power development, the U.S. is ceding the lead to China in this important technology, and killing a lot of U.S. jobs.”
Claim 4: A recent surge in whale strandings in New England is linked to wind farms.
The Facts: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has found no known connections between large whale deaths and ongoing offshore wind activities. NOAA consistently analyzes causes of death, relying on scientific data. Unsubstantiated claims linking offshore wind to whale fatalities have emerged as a contentious point in the ongoing debate over renewable energy’s future.
The nation’s first commercial-scale offshore wind farm commenced operations in 2024 east of Montauk Point, New York. Another significant offshore wind farm is under construction off Massachusetts, and a five-turbine pilot project has been operational off Rhode Island since 2016.
Claim 5: “The birds are dying all over the place” due to wind turbines.
The Facts: While wind turbines, like all infrastructure, can pose risks to birds, the National Audubon Society, a leading bird conservation organization, believes these risks are manageable. The Audubon Society stresses that climate change represents a far greater threat to bird populations. A report from the organization indicated that two-thirds of North American bird species could face extinction due to rising temperatures.
In January, the nonprofit declared that responsible offshore wind development offers clear benefits for birds, the U.S. economy, and the climate. Sam Wojcicki, Audubon’s senior director for climate policy, stated in a January post, “While persistent myths claim widespread and devastating effects of offshore wind turbines on wildlife, the science tells a different story. Our findings clearly indicate that we can responsibly deploy offshore wind in a manner that still protects birds and their habitats.” The organization also supports onshore wind energy when it is properly sited and operated to minimize its impact on wildlife.
Claim 6: Wind turbine blades cannot be disposed of because “environmentalists don’t let you bury the blades.”
The Facts: Recycling wind turbine blades presents a unique challenge due to their robust design, built to withstand hurricane-force winds. However, the U.S. already possesses the capability to recycle a majority of wind turbine materials, according to the Department of Energy. A January report from the department found that 90% of wind turbines can be recycled using existing infrastructure, with new strategies and innovative methods being developed to address the remaining portion.
The wind power industry acknowledges blade disposal as an issue. Danish wind energy developer Ørsted committed in 2021 to never sending turbine blades to landfills, opting instead for reuse, recycling, or other recovery methods.