Fossil fuels instead of wind power: The US President is increasing his efforts to eliminate wind farm projects in the USA.
May 4, 2026, 5:57 amMay 4, 2026, 5:57 am
Anna-Lena Janzen / t-online
According to a report, the government under Donald Trump is blocking dozens of wind farm projects in the USA. The Financial Times reported, citing the American Clean Energy Association and anonymous sources, that 165 projects had not received the necessary clearances from the Pentagon. The ministry justifies this with concerns about “national security”.
Scorned by the current US government: wind power plants (here in St. Imier in Switzerland).Image: keystone
Wind farms routinely require approval from the Ministry of Defense to avoid interference with radar systems. Normally, the Pentagon’s assessments are completed within a few days, the newspaper reported. However, since August 2025, the developers are said to have faced a number of setbacks. Among other things, there were no communications from the Ministry of Defense or discussions on the status of the projects.
Numerous projects are now about to be canceled – 35 of them have already gone through negotiations and received verbal commitments. They were just waiting for the final approval from the Ministry of Defense. 50 of the affected projects are therefore considered harmless due to their distance from military installations and flight routes. The wind farms could generate 30 gigawatts, enough to power 15 million homes, according to the report.
US President Trump is a declared opponent of wind power and signed a decree against the expansion of wind energy after taking office again in January 2025. His predecessor Joe Biden, however, had promoted wind power.
Interior Ministry announces halt to offshore wind power projects
Just last week, the government announced the abandonment of two further planned offshore wind power projects – in return for reimbursements to the companies involved. The agreements reached would end projects that were “only profitable” if they were “subsidized by massive tax money,” explained Interior Minister Doug Burgum. The refunds to the companies should now flow into oil and gas production.
According to the Interior Department, the agreements concern BluePoint Wind, an offshore wind farm off the coast of New York and New Jersey, and Golden State Wind off the coast of California. Ocean Winds, a joint venture between French energy group Engie and EDP Renewables of Portugal, held 50 percent of both projects. A subsidiary of the investment group Blackrock was a partner in the BluePoint wind farm.
Money should flow into a facility for liquefied natural gas
According to the information, the BlackRock subsidiary agreed to invest up to $765 million in a US liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility as part of the agreement. Golden State Wind will receive a refund of $120 million, which will now be invested in US oil and gas reserves as well as “energy infrastructure and/or LNG projects along the Gulf Coast”.
Engie said both wind power projects were still at an early stage. The company “remains committed” to offshore wind energy – particularly in the Asia-Pacific region and Europe.
The US Interior Department noted that the agreements reached were similar to an agreement reached last month with the French energy company TotalEnergies. At the end of March, the company agreed to divert around $928 million to an LNG project and forego two offshore wind projects off the coast of New York and North Carolina.
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