Trump’s War On Wind Turbines Takes Another Ludicrous Turn
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What’s up with the US Department of Energy these days? Over the past few weeks, the agency’s website has been reposting, recirculating, or updating Biden-era information about renewable energy. The PR blitz also includes brand new developments like PacWave South, a major clean energy facility that finally opened for business on August 27 after a years-long effort. Even wind turbines are coming in for their share of attention, which is remarkable considering US President Donald Trump’s longstanding, fetishistic animosity towards wind power.
The War On Wind Turbines
To be clear, it would be silly to expect DOE to launch any new funding program that helps the US wind industry get back on its feet after going through the Trump chopper. In particular, Trump has zeroed in on offshore wind, even to the extent of rewarding — some say bribing — offshore lease holders to walk away from their plans.
Still, among the web pages recently updated by the Energy Department is an explainer titled, “Wind Manufacturing and Supply Chain.” Dated September 10, 2026, the page starts off by explaining that DOE “works with wind energy technology suppliers to promote advanced manufacturing capabilities. The goals are to increase reliability while lowering production costs and promote an industry that can meet all demands domestically while competing in the global market.”
“The Integrated Energy Systems Office supports industry partnerships and targeted R&D funding that integrate new designs, materials, and processes into manufacturing facilities, thus making energy technologies more affordable,” DOE adds somewhat mysteriously.
A Wind Turbine By Any Other Name
So, what is this Integrated Energy Systems Office? The Wind Manufacturing and Supply Chain explainer was posted under the IESO heading, and therein lies a tale.
On September 17, DOE blasted out an email explaining that IESO is a new office that combines the former Solar Energy Technologies Office and Wind Energy Technologies Office into, well, one office.
“Our core mission at IESO is to enhance grid reliability and resilience, secure U.S. technological leadership across diverse energy generation sources, and lower energy costs for hardworking Americans,” DOE states.
“By combining our efforts, we can more effectively seize the incredible opportunities presented by the evolving energy landscape to unleash American energy dominance,” DOE adds for good measure.
If that language sounds familiar, that’s because DOE routinely lauds fossil fuels for the same reasons. So, take that with a Texas-sized grain of salt. It really is beyond belief that the Trump administration would release any funding in support of the wind industry, unless, of course, forced to do so by court order.
Still, a brand new word popped up in the IESO email, which makes things rather interesting. In accord with its combined solar-plus-wind mission, IESO lists advanced photovoltaics, solar thermal technologies, cybersecurity and other grid integration systems, and permitting under its wing, along with something called “aeromechanical energy systems.”
Aeromechanical energy systems! Now, that’s a word combo you don’t see every day, especially when something more simple and readable will do, like “wind turbines.”
Apparently someone forgot to read their Strunk and White. Be that as it may, IESO tasks the Aeromechanical Energy Systems branch with addressing “challenges to the long-term reliability and performance of wind energy systems” and facilitating “the recycling of end-of-life wind energy components.”
Where Are These Aeromechanical Energy Systems Of Which You Speak?
Further muddying the waters for any kind of wind industry support, IESO comes under the organizational chart of the recently established Office of Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation.
Apparently OCMEI put the IESO cart before the horse. The new IESO web page lists only one open funding opportunity and exactly zero upcoming opportunities, followed by a list of programs “under review.” Other than that, the IESO website is barely populated.
For the record, the only open funding opportunity is directed at the booming space solar field. All of the programs listed for review also come under the solar umbrella or other general grid initiatives.
The Fight For Onshore Wind Power Continues
A quick glance at DOE’s other open funding programs does reveal considerable activity on the part of CMEI covering energy resources in general. Some of that background noise may benefit the wind industry, eventually. As for the here and now, don’t expect to see any fresh round of funding opportunities in the “aeromechanical energy systems” field any time soon.
In the meantime, Trump’s war on wind power continues. Last year a federal judge affirmed that the President — any President — can stop issuing new offshore wind leases, which pretty much stifles further growth because virtually all offshore lease opportunities fall under federal jurisdiction.
Still, the same judge, and a series of other judges, ruled that Trump has no authority to delay or stop work on offshore wind projects that already have leases in hand. That explains the series of offshore lease buyouts/briberies. It’s a last, desperate attempt to stop any more wind turbines from going into the water under Trump’s watch.
The Hail Mary attempt may ultimately fail, as a group of coastal states has sued to reverse the transactions. Some members of Congress have also alleged that the buyouts were illegally funneled through the Department of Justice.
As for the onshore wind industry, at first glance there is much wiggle room for wind turbines to spring up, if not on land owned by the federal government then on land that falls under private, state, or local ownership. Or not, as the case may be. Last year, The US Department of Defense froze a heretofore routine process for reviewing wind farm permits.
The review process, which also includes the Federal Aviation Administration, applies to projects with wind turbines more than 200 feet tall. In July of this year, a group of 19 state attorneys general sued the Trump administration to get things moving again.
“In August 2025, DoD abruptly stopped following this process. Officials ceased countersigning mitigation agreements, stopped sending completed agreements to developers for signature, and delayed or halted communications with developers about mitigation,” explains one member of the group, Washington State Attorney General Nick Brown.
In August of this year, a federal judge agreed and ruled that the freeze was illegal. Shocker! Of course, the Trump administration could always find new ways to block new wind farms, and reportedly it has. Still, US Presidents come and go, but the wind blows forever…
Image: US President Donald Trump’s war on wind turbines takes another ludicrous turn as the Department of Energy re-brands to “aeromechanical energy systems” (courtesy of US DOE).
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