Energy supporters across Wyoming are holding their breath as they wait to see how the Trump administration’s continued steps against offshore, and onshore, wind projects will impact the industry in the Cowboy State.
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. during a Tuesday cabinet meeting announced that an “interdepartmental coalition” of Trump administration leaders are now collaborating on an effort to examine risks associated with offshore wind.
These officials include Secretary of the Interior Doug Bergum, Secretary of Energy Chris Wright and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, among others.
HHS is examining potential health impacts caused by wind turbines, while Pentagon officials are determining whether turbines could be considered a threat to national security.
“We’re all working together on this issue,” Kennedy said.
The move, along with President Donald Trump’s prior actions to restrict new wind projects, sends a clear signal the Trump administration is preparing for a fight against future wind developments, something that has energy supporters throughout Wyoming concerned.
Wyoming In The Crosshairs
Trump’s Wind Directive, issued Jan. 20, “orders the heads of relevant federal agencies to relinquish their congressionally imposed responsibilities.”
The Wind Directive states federal regulators, “Shall not issue new or renewed approvals, rights of way, permits, leases, or loans for onshore or offshore-wind projects pending the completion of a comprehensive assessment and review of federal wind leasing and permitting practices.'
Powering Up Wyoming is an energy advocacy group which promotes wind and solar projects in the state. Mark Eisele, a member of the group’s advisory board, told Cowboy State Daily he views the Trump administration’s actions as a potential threat to Wyoming’s wind farms.
“I’m supportive of the Trump administration and their perspective, this is just one I wish they’d slow down on a little bit and consider the case-by-case basis,” he said.
“I think it’s going to end up hurting some of us,” he said of the Trump administration’s ongoing focus to restrict wind energy projects. “I think the state has a legitimate need for that power with these data centers coming in.”
While Trump’s latest actions are aimed at offshore projects and haven’t yet been directed toward onshore wind farms, Eisele said he believes Wyoming is “absolutely” in the administration’s crosshairs.
Eisele highlighted the fact that the construction of wind farms bring jobs to Wyoming. These projects then enable more jobs through the arrival of labor-intensive data centers and other new developments which can benefit from the increased energy production.
Farmers and ranchers, he added, also rely upon the additional income earned through leasing their land to wind developers. If the Trump administration were to limit the creation of new wind projects, Eisele predicted that revenue would be sorrily missed.
“We’re not going to have the power generated here,” he said of the potential impacts of the White House’s wind efforts. “We’re not going to have the jobs here and the farmers and ranchers that are using it for good means, they’d lose that opportunity.”
“I already know of one or two ranches that have had their potential contracts stopped,” he added. “The competition for wind farms is actually pretty stiff and right now we’re barely competitive with some of the other western states.”
Eisele also speculated Trump may be looking at offshore wind from a tax perspective given some of the federal subsidies they receive. This approach, Eisele argued, will not save the country as much money as it may appear since “wind doesn’t really cost us anything to run.”
“I think it’ll end up hurting us in the long run,” he said of Trump’s actions.
Far From The Ocean
Charlie Farthing, a Cheyenne-based landowner, says he has been keeping up with national energy trends with the potential of a wind development coming to his land. He told Cowboy State Daily he is not concerned by the Trump administration’s efforts because Wyoming is a long way from the nation’s offshore wind farms.
“We’re sure not next to an ocean,” he said. “Offshore wind isn’t going to affect us probably one way or another.”
The Trump administration’s actions, he said, have a far reach but the president will have to work hard to challenge Wyoming’s energy dominance.
“I think this offshore wind is probably more for the east coast, probably some on the west coast,” he added. “As far as affecting Wyoming, one way or another I don’t think it will have much effect.”
Washington Wind
The move is the latest step by the Trump administration to put a damper on U.S. wind energy efforts. Among a slew of other executive orders issued on Inauguration Day, the president signed a memo instating a temporary withdrawal of offshore wind energy leasing.
That memo said its actions were to ensure the country maintained a “robust fishing industry” and to provide “low-cost energy” to U.S. citizens.
“This withdrawal does not apply to leasing related to any other purposes such as, but not limited to, oil, gas, minerals, and environmental conservation,” the order reads.
White House spokesperson Anna Kelly told Cowboy State Daily on Thursday the administration views wind as a less reliable form of energy production compared to other more traditional sources like coal and gas.
“On day one of his second term, President Trump signed an Executive Order instructing agencies to review leasing and permitting practices for wind projects,” she wrote via email. “Agencies are implementing that Executive Order by evaluating whether they have any policies in place that would advantage wind developers over more effective and reliable types of energy, such as coal, natural gas, and nuclear.”
Kelly did not comment on the administration’s views of onshore or Wyoming wind farms when prompted by Cowboy State Daily via email.
Department of the Interior Senior Public Affairs Specialist Alyse Sharpe also told Cowboy State Daily in an email that the federal government has a policy of “elevated review” when it comes to weighing the impacts of its energy decisions.
Sharpe also did not directly address onshore windfarms and projects including those in Wyoming when prompted via email by Cowboy State Daily.
“This review ensures that wind and solar projects—regardless of whether they are proposed on federal, state or private lands—receive appropriate oversight when federal resources, permits or consultations are involved,” Sharpe wrote. “This policy strengthens accountability, prevents misuse of taxpayer-funded subsidies and upholds our commitment to restoring balance in energy development.”
The Trump administration meanwhile has rolled back several Biden-era restrictions on coal. Rep. Harriet Hageman, R-Wyo., in August was among those who cheered a move by the Department of the Interior to approve a coal mine south of Gillette.
“The Department of the Interior's approval of the mining plan modification for the Antelope Mine is not only a major win for Wyoming, but a win for all national consumers of Wyoming’s energy,” she wrote. “Energy security is national security. I will continue fighting to ensure federal agencies work with us to unleash our resources, support our workers, and fuel our nation for generations to come.”
Trump in January took a harsh stance toward all U.S. wind farms, describing them as unpopular with Americans and not price effective.
“We’re going to try to have a policy where no windmills are being built,” Trump said. “Nobody wants them. They’re very expensive. They don’t work without subsidy.”
Wyoming in 2023 obtained 20.7% of its energy from wind, according to information published by the Department of Energy. Data published by the National Renewable Energy Lab shows the state annually generates about 1,944,340 gigawatt hours of power from wind.
Jackson Walker can be reached at walker@cowboystatedaily.com.
