What President Trump Gets Wrong (And Right) About Wind Farms

During a recent meeting, President Donald Trump criticized wind farms in Scotland, calling wind energy a “con job” and repeating several familiar claims. During the charged press conference, Trump said, “They’ve destroyed the ocean with these windmills all over the place, and they’re all in front of my golf course… I’m the one that got sued because I wanted to stop them. ”

He said offshore wind farms were responsible for whale deaths, reduced property values, and were too expensive to be viable. While his comments generated headlines, they also revived several long-debunked myths about wind energy. The science and development decisions around wind farms are a bit more nuanced.

Myths About Wind Farms vs. Science: A History of Misinformation

President Trump has made dozens of misleading or false statements about wind energy since his initial legal challenges to turbines near his Aberdeenshire resort. Coming from the President, those assertions carry greater weight and scrutiny, but they are not unlike other myths and misunderstandings around wind farms and clean energy.

The most common inaccuracies include:

• “Wind turbines kill all the birds.”
  According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, wind turbines are responsible for fewer than one million bird deaths annually. In contrast, buildings kill an estimated 600 million birds, and cats kill more than 2 billion birds per year (U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, 2023).
• “Wind farms are killing whales.”
  NOAA and the National Marine Fisheries Service report no scientific evidence linking whale strandings to offshore wind development. Leading causes include ship strikes, fishing gear entanglement, and ecosystem shifts driven by warming oceans.
• “Wind energy is the most expensive form of energy.”
  Onshore wind is now one of the cheapest forms of new electricity in the U.S. In 2023, its levelized cost was approximately $33 per megawatt-hour, lower than fossil gas ($45) and coal ($70).
• “Wind turbines destroy property values.”
  A Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory study found no consistent evidence of long-term home value reduction near wind projects.
• “Wind turbine syndrome” causes cancer and other health issues.
  A comprehensive review published in PMC found no scientific basis for claims that turbine noise or vibrations cause serious health effects.

Scientists and fact-checking organizations have widely refuted these myths. Similar myths persist in online forums and on social media.

How Wind Farms Work And What They Cost

Wind turbines convert kinetic energy from moving air into electricity. The wind turns turbine blades connected to a rotor, which spins a generator to produce electrical power. Most utility-scale turbines begin generating electricity at wind speeds of 6 to 9 miles per hour and reach maximum output between 25 and 55 miles per hour. If winds exceed 55 mph, turbines automatically shut down to prevent damage. Wind farms can be onshore or offshore. Offshore turbines, often taller and more powerful, benefit from steadier and faster wind speeds. While offshore installations require more upfront investment, they tend to produce more energy per unit. The U.S. Department of Energy forecasts that wind turbines will become more efficient and quieter in the coming years through improved blade design, higher hub heights, and better siting.

Wind energy’s economic profile has improved dramatically. The average levelized cost of energy (LCOE) for new onshore wind is around $33 per megawatt-hour. Offshore wind remains more expensive, currently around $78 per megawatt-hour, but is expected to decline as technology advances. Unlike fossil fuels, wind has no ongoing fuel cost. Maintenance and operations account for the bulk of ongoing expenses. Wind farms also benefit from federal tax incentives and state-level renewable energy mandates.

There are valid concerns regarding turbine decommissioning and recycling. Turbine blades, often made of composite materials, are difficult to recycle, but innovations are underway. For instance, researchers are testing ways to process blades into cement or create reusable materials. A study from Resources for the Future concluded that offshore wind development along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts generates net public benefits, including cleaner air and reduced health costs.

Pros and Cons of Wind Energy

While the President’s criticisms rely heavily on misinformation, wind energy does present real-world trade-offs. For example, researchers at Harvard note that large wind farms can cause minor surface warming due to disrupted air circulation, though this effect is small compared to that of fossil-fuel.

Advantages:

• Zero emissions: Wind power does not emit greenhouse gases during operation.
• Job creation: Wind energy supports over 100,000 jobs in the U.S., especially in rural manufacturing and maintenance.
• Energy diversification: Wind helps reduce dependence on imported fuels and supports energy security.
• Land sharing: Farmland used for wind turbines can still support crops or grazing.

Challenges:

• Intermittency: Wind is variable. However, improved forecasting, battery storage, and grid interconnection can reduce this issue.
• Wildlife impact: Bird and bat collisions are a concern, but this is also being mitigated via new technologies and siting regulations.
• Visual and acoustic concerns: Some residents oppose wind farms due to landscape changes or low-level noise.
• Lifecycle management: Decommissioning and material recycling require long-term planning.

Even with growing deployment and falling costs, wind power remains subject to persistent myths that shape public opinion and political debate. Here is a look at some of those common misunderstandings versus the contrasting scientific evidence.

Common Myths About Wind Farms

Myth: Wind turbines are loud and dangerous to health.
Modern turbines are quieter than early models. Most jurisdictions require setback distances to minimize any noise impact. Systematic reviews have found no credible evidence linking turbine operation to serious health issues.

Myth: Wind turbines cannot be recycled.
Turbine towers and components made of steel and aluminum are recyclable. While blades are more difficult to process, companies like Vestas and GE are piloting blade-to-cement and other reuse initiatives.

Myth: Wind energy is unreliable.
Wind’s variability is well-understood and managed through grid planning and storage. In Texas and the Midwest, wind now supplies more than 20 percent of electricity in some months.

Myth: Wind farms are manufactured abroad.
A significant portion of the turbine supply chain is domestic. Companies such as Siemens Gamesa and GE manufacture blades, towers, and nacelles in U.S. facilities. Wind has become a key economic driver in states like Iowa and Oklahoma.

Wind power or wind farms are not without impact. But scientific evidence does not support the claims most frequently made by critics. As the technology evolves and deployment expands, wind energy offers a path to cleaner air, economic opportunity, and climate resilience. The choice to invest in wind, or to obstruct it, should be informed by science and fact-based policymaking.