Trump eyes an end to new windmill production under second term, says they are ‘driving the whales crazy’

President-elect Donald Trump has made it clear that he envisions a future without new wind energy projects under his administration. He argues that wind energy is economically impractical and is causing harm to marine life, particularly in Massachusetts where he claims that windmills are driving whales crazy.

During a news conference at Mar-a-Lago, Trump stated that wind energy is the most expensive form of energy production and heavily relies on subsidies from the federal government. He believes that the only people benefiting from windmills are those receiving these subsidies, and that the country should not be investing in energy sources that require government assistance.

In addition to economic concerns, Trump also raised issues regarding the impact of wind turbines on marine life. He pointed to the increase in whale deaths in Massachusetts, suggesting that the presence of windmills is affecting the behavior of these creatures. Environmental groups such as Green Oceans have echoed Trump’s concerns, citing increased ship traffic, noise pollution, and sonar activity as potential factors contributing to marine life disturbances.

However, the National Marine Fisheries Service has stated that there is currently no evidence linking wind turbines to whale deaths. Despite this, Trump remains firm in his stance against wind energy, claiming that the visual impact of turbines near his private country clubs also plays a role in his opposition.

Critics of Trump’s stance, including Democratic Senator Ron Wyden, argue that the incoming president is out of touch with the country’s energy needs. Wind energy is currently the largest source of renewable energy in the U.S., according to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), and has been a key focus of President Joe Biden’s green energy agenda.

Over the past four years, Biden has made significant investments in offshore wind projects, approving the nation’s first 11 commercial-scale projects. This push for renewable energy has faced opposition from some members of the GOP, who have expressed concerns over potential negative impacts of wind turbines.

As Trump prepares to take office, his stance on wind energy and potential restrictions on new projects signal a shift in energy policy that could have wide-reaching implications for the future of renewable energy in the United States. It remains to be seen how his administration will address these issues and what impact it will have on the country’s energy landscape.