COLUMN: When the U.S. Justice System Deals a Blow to Trump on Offshore Wind Power

Hostility on Display from Day One

Donald Trump has never hidden his aversion to wind energy. As soon as he returned to power in January 2025, he signed an executive order banning the issuance of new permits for offshore wind farms in waters under federal jurisdiction. In December 2025, a federal judge in Massachusetts ruled the executive order illegal. But Trump did not give up. In late December, his administration went a step further by ordering the suspension of all wind projects currently under construction. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, known for his close ties to the oil and gas industry, justified this decision by citing risks to national security. According to him, the movement of the blades and the highly reflective towers of wind turbines create radar interference that threatens U.S. national defense.

Trump and wind power—it’s a love story… in reverse. A pathological obsession. He has called wind power an “economic and environmental disaster.” He claims that wind turbines kill whales—a claim refuted by the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. He finds wind turbines ugly. Ugly! As if aesthetics should take precedence over the planet’s survival. There’s nothing rational about this crusade. It’s an ideological war waged by a man who refuses to accept that the world is changing.

Doug Burgum, Secretary of Oil and Gas

Doug Burgum, Trump’s Secretary of the Interior, is a staunch defender of fossil fuels. On social media platform X, he claimed that a single natural gas pipeline provides as much energy as all five offshore wind projects combined. For him, suspending wind projects is a “common-sense” measure. Burgum has taken numerous steps to boost oil and natural gas production, while systematically attacking renewable energy. His message is clear: America must rely on fossil fuels, not wind. This position mirrors that of Trump, who has promised to revive the U.S. fossil fuel industry and put an end to what he calls “the wind power scam.”

Imaginary Radar Interference

The Trump administration justifies the suspension of wind energy projects by citing risks to national security. According to the Department of Defense, offshore wind turbines create radar interference that compromises military surveillance. The movement of the blades and the reflective towers are said to disrupt detection systems. But these claims are not based on any solid scientific studies. Wind project developers have challenged these arguments, pointing out that technologies exist to mitigate radar interference. Furthermore, offshore projects are located at considerable distances from sensitive military installations. The courts have consistently rejected these arguments, ruling that they do not constitute a sufficient legal basis to suspend projects that have already been authorized and are under construction.

National security. The ultimate wild card. The killer argument you pull out when you’ve run out of other things to say. Trump invokes national security to block offshore wind turbines, but he provides no concrete evidence. No studies. No Pentagon reports. Just vague claims about radar interference. And meanwhile, the real threats to national security—climate change, dependence on fossil fuels, increasingly frequent natural disasters—are ignored. It’s pure cynicism.

The Myth of Whale-Killing Wind Turbines

Trump has also repeatedly claimed that offshore wind turbines cause whale deaths. This theory, widely circulated in climate-skeptic circles, has been formally debunked by the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). According to NOAA, no link has been established between offshore wind power and cetacean mortality. The leading causes of whale deaths are collisions with ships and entanglement in fishing nets. Yet Trump continues to spread this false information, using it as an argument to justify his opposition to offshore wind power. This deliberate misinformation illustrates the ideological nature of his crusade against renewable energy.

Billions of dollars at stake

The suspensions ordered by the Trump administration have massive economic consequences. The Revolution Wind project alone represents more than $5 billion in investments. The Sunrise Wind project is nearly 45% complete and was scheduled to be operational in 2027. Dominion Energy has warned that halting its project would threaten the reliability of the power grid and put thousands of jobs at risk. On the New York Stock Exchange, Dominion Energy’s stock fell by more than 5% following the announcement of the suspension. On the Copenhagen Stock Exchange, the Danish group Ørsted lost more than 12% of its value. The Danish wind turbine manufacturer Vestas also suffered significant losses. These figures illustrate the extent of the damage caused by the Trump administration’s erratic decisions.

$5 billion. Think about that number. $5 billion invested in a project that was supposed to create jobs, provide clean energy to hundreds of thousands of households, and help combat climate change. And Trump decides to shut it all down. Companies are losing billions on the stock market. Thousands of jobs are at risk. But who cares, right? As long as Trump can satisfy his ego and his friends in the fossil fuel industry, nothing else matters.

Thousands of Jobs at Risk

Offshore wind projects aren’t just financial investments—they’re also job creators. The construction, installation, and maintenance of wind farms require thousands of skilled workers. The suspensions ordered by Trump have put these jobs at risk. Dominion Energy has explicitly warned that halting its project would jeopardize thousands of jobs. Unions and labor organizations have condemned these decisions, emphasizing that the offshore wind industry represents a major economic opportunity for the United States. By blocking these projects, Trump is not only harming the environment—he is also sabotaging the U.S. economy and depriving thousands of families of stable incomes.

New York and Rhode Island on the Front Lines

The states of New York and Rhode Island were among the first to challenge the Trump administration’s decisions. These states, led by Democratic governors, have ambitious renewable energy goals. New York has committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, and offshore wind plays a central role in this strategy. The Sunrise Wind project was set to provide electricity to 600,000 New York households. Rhode Island, for its part, is counting on the Revolution Wind project to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels. The governors of these states immediately filed lawsuits to challenge the suspensions, arguing that they violated federal laws and jeopardized their climate goals.

Fortunately, there are still states that refuse to bow to Trump’s madness. New York, Rhode Island, Connecticut—these states are fighting for their energy future. They have ambitious climate goals, and they won’t let Trump sabotage them. This resistance is essential. It shows that, despite the federal administration’s attempts to roll back progress, there are still pockets of resistance, islands of reason in an ocean of climate denial.

A Coalition of States Sues the Administration

A coalition of U.S. states has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration to challenge the ban on offshore wind power. This coalition, composed mainly of states on the East Coast, accuses the administration of violating federal environmental and energy laws. The plaintiff states argue that the suspensions are arbitrary, lack a sound scientific basis, and cause considerable economic and environmental harm. The courts have largely ruled in favor of these states, systematically blocking the administration’s halt orders. This legal battle illustrates the deep divide between Democratic states, which are banking on renewable energy, and the Republican federal administration, which favors fossil fuels.

Wind Power Is Cheaper Than Coal

Contrary to Trump’s claims, several studies have shown that wind power in the United States costs, on average, less than many other energy sources, particularly coal. These studies take into account production costs, excluding government subsidies. Offshore wind power, although more expensive to install than onshore wind power, is becoming increasingly competitive thanks to technological advances and economies of scale. In contrast, coal—which Trump is seeking to revive—is not only more polluting but also more expensive in the long run. Aging coal-fired power plants require massive investments to remain operational, and their environmental costs—air pollution, CO2 emissions, and damage to public health—are considerable.

Trump claims that wind power is an economic disaster. But the numbers tell a different story. Wind power is cheaper than coal. Cheaper! And yet, Trump wants to revive coal-fired power plants—those polluting dinosaurs that poison the air and heat up the planet. Why? Because he’s trapped in a fossil-fuel ideology—literally. He refuses to accept that the world has changed, that renewable energy is the future. And in the meantime, Americans are paying the price for his stubbornness.

The Hidden Costs of Fossil Fuels

Fossil fuels have hidden costs that Trump and his administration refuse to acknowledge. Air pollution caused by coal- and gas-fired power plants leads to thousands of premature deaths each year in the United States. CO2 emissions contribute to climate change, whose economic consequences—natural disasters, droughts, floods—amount to hundreds of billions of dollars. Federal subsidies for fossil fuels also represent a significant cost to taxpayers. In comparison, offshore wind power—though requiring substantial initial investment—provides clean, renewable, and increasingly competitive energy. Ignoring these economic and environmental realities is not only irresponsible but also dangerous for the future of the United States.

Ørsted and Vestas Under Pressure

The Danish group Ørsted, the world leader in offshore wind power, has been hit hard by the Trump administration’s decisions. On the Copenhagen Stock Exchange, Ørsted’s stock plummeted by more than 12% following the announcement of the suspensions in December 2025. The company immediately filed lawsuits to challenge the suspension orders, arguing that they violated existing contracts and caused considerable financial damage. Vestas, the Danish wind turbine manufacturer, also suffered losses on the stock market, dropping nearly 3% in value. These companies, which have invested billions in the U.S. market, find themselves held hostage by Trump’s ideological whims. Despite recent legal victories, uncertainty persists, and investors remain nervous.

Imagine you’re Ørsted. You’re investing billions in projects in the United States. You comply with all regulations. You obtain all the necessary permits. And then, all of a sudden, a president decides that your industry is a threat to national security. Without evidence. Without justification. Just because he doesn’t like wind turbines. It’s Kafkaesque. It’s unfair. And that’s exactly what’s happening under the Trump administration. Companies that are investing in the future are being punished, while those that pollute are being rewarded.

Turn Forward Condemns an Illegal Attack

The pro-wind energy organization Turn Forward has strongly criticized the Trump administration’s actions. In a statement, its executive director, Hillary Bright, said: “This administration has baselessly and illegally attacked wind energy, while supporting aging and costly coal-fired power plants that are running at full capacity and polluting our air.” ” Turn Forward welcomed the recent court rulings, noting that the courts have “consistently rejected the government’s abrupt attempt to halt construction of these fully authorized projects.” The organization called on the administration to cease its attacks on wind power and focus on the energy transition needed to combat climate change.

A Catastrophic Setback in the Fight Against Climate Change

The suspensions of offshore wind projects ordered by Trump are having disastrous consequences for the U.S. energy transition. Under the Biden administration, the country has committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions and achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. Offshore wind was set to play a central role in this strategy. By blocking these projects, Trump is jeopardizing these goals and delaying the transition to a low-carbon economy. Scientists are unanimous: every year of delay in reducing emissions exacerbates the consequences of climate change. The United States, one of the world’s largest emitters of CO₂, has a special responsibility in the fight against global warming. By sabotaging offshore wind power, Trump is betraying that responsibility.

We don’t have time to spare. Every year counts. Every wind energy project counts. And Trump, in his blind obstinacy, is sabotaging everything. He is delaying the energy transition we desperately need. He is jeopardizing our children’s future. And for what? To satisfy his ego? To please his friends in the fossil fuel industry? This is unacceptable. It is criminal. And history will judge him harshly for it.

The Uncertain Future of U.S. Offshore Wind

Despite recent legal victories, the future of offshore wind in the United States remains uncertain. The Trump administration could appeal the court rulings or find other ways to block projects. Investors, wary of political instability, may hesitate to commit new capital to the sector. Companies like Ørsted and Dominion Energy must navigate a hostile regulatory environment, where rules can change overnight. This uncertainty harms the entire industry and jeopardizes the development of offshore wind power—which is essential for meeting U.S. climate goals. Only strong and stable political will can guarantee the future of this promising sector.

The Courts Stand Firm Against Trump’s Madness

Recent court rulings show that U.S. courts remain a bulwark against the excesses of the Trump administration. Federal judges have consistently rejected the administration’s arguments, finding them to lack legal and scientific merit. These legal victories are crucial, as they allow wind energy projects to move forward and contribute to the energy transition. But they are merely battles in a broader war. Trump and his administration will likely continue their attacks on wind power, and project developers will need to remain vigilant. The justice system, while essential, cannot single-handedly guarantee the future of renewable energy. It will also take citizen mobilization, political pressure, and state-level commitment to counter the federal administration’s attempts at sabotage.

I want to believe that these legal victories mark a turning point—that the courts will continue to resist Trump’s anti-wind power madness. But I also know that the battle is far from over. Trump will not give up. He will find other ways to sabotage wind power, other fallacious arguments to justify his obstinacy. So yes, let’s celebrate these victories. But let’s remain vigilant. Because the future of our planet depends on it. And because we cannot afford to lose this battle.

Signed, Jacques Provost