Let's talk about Don Quixote and Don Trump losing their battles against windmills.... - Belle of the Ranch

[TexasTowelie]

Well, howdy there Internet people. It's Belle again. So, today we're going to talk about Don Quixote and Don Trump losing their battles.

About a month ago, Trump ordered some major wind turbine construction projects halted at a time of increasing energy prices. It seemed like a horrible political move, but Trump cast aside his normal political instincts and moved ahead with trying to shut down the projects. Many wondered if, like Don Quixote, he saw something nobody else did.

Then Trump gave his just incredibly bizarre rant on wind turbines at Davos. One of the more interesting lines was, "China makes almost all the windmills, and yet I haven't been able to find any wind farms in China. Do you ever think of that? China's very smart. They make them. They sell them for a fortune. They sell them to the stupid people who buy them, but they don't use them themselves.

China produces about 40% of the world's wind power. China is literally the world's leader in wind produced energy according to the US Energy Information Administration, China generated 521 gigawatts of wind power in 2024.

Look, I fact check Trump all the time. I've grown very accustomed to Trumpian distortions. But this is something else. The party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final most essential command.

Earlier this month, Trump told oil executives, "My goal is to not let any windmill be built." He was apparently unaware that a lot of oil companies are also invested in wind. Despite Trump's stated goal, much like Don Quixote and his fight with the windmills, the windmills seem to be winning.

Three different federal judges, including one appointed by Trump, allowed wind projects off the coast of New England, New York, and Virginia to restart construction. The message sent by the judges was incredibly clear. Trump doesn't get to simply command construction to stop. They can't simply claim national security reasons and that be the end of it. The judges wanted real explanations for the orders to stop work. It seems pretty clear they didn't feel they got them.

Joel Eisen, who is a law professor at the University of Richmond, said, "The reality is that the animus that this administration has toward these projects has forced it to cut corners with its reasoning. It's blinding them to making a good and reasoned explanation as to why it is they want to stop work.”

Because of Trump's bizarre fascination with trying to stop cleaner, more reliable, cheaper tech, the administration is expected to continue tilting at windmills. But at least for the moment, construction is moving ahead on projects that will bring much needed gigawatts to the East Coast. The worry is that Trump's team will form better arguments later, and this whole escapade by Trump has worried investors. Trump's moves may have chilled investment and slowed development. If development slows, that means less energy on the grid. That means higher prices for you.

Anyway, it's just a thought. Y'all have a good day.

[Marcuse]

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