RNW's Statement on Wind Energy Executive Order

Renewable Northwest released the following statement from Executive Director Nicole Hughes in response to President Trump’s Executive Order on offshore wind and onshore wind leasing and permitting:

Portland, Oregon, January 22, 2025  – 

“Renewable Northwest is pleased to see domestic energy production is a priority for the incoming Administration. We are however disappointed to see an Executive Order aimed at halting or impeding development of domestic wind energy on federal lands and waters. The contradiction between several energy-focused Executive Orders the new Administration has issued is stark. On the one hand, the Administration seeks to reduce bureaucracy and unleash domestic energy production. On the other hand, the Administration’s proposal increases bureaucratic barriers on wind development, undermining domestic energy production and harming American businesses and workers which is contrary to an “all of the above” energy strategy this country needs and that consecutive administrations - including the first Trump Administration - have always pursued.

“Today, U.S. wind power is the fourth-largest source of electricity generation capacity in the country. Across the four-state region of the Pacific Northwest, there are roughly 125 separate, large wind projects, generating enough energy to power the equivalent of more than 2.8 million homes. It should be no surprise that existing and new wind power projects are an important element of the Pacific Northwest’s ability to reliably serve soaring electricity demand for manufacturing and data centers. These projects also provide millions of dollars in tax revenues for many counties across the region; in Oregon, since 2007, Sherman and Gilliam counties have collectively benefited from more than $158,000,000 in tax revenue from wind projects. 

“The wind energy industry currently supports over 300,000 U.S. jobs across the United States, including all four states in our region. Denying the build-out of domestic wind energy not only harms our energy security but also denies thousands of workers in our region access to jobs producing domestic energy.

“Renewable Northwest can provide other insights and data to demonstrate the positive role that wind power is playing in our region’s economic and energy supply growth and security.”

About Renewable Northwest      

Renewable Northwest is a regional, non-profit renewable energy advocacy organization, dedicated to accelerating the transition to renewable electricity while maintaining reliable, resilient electricity service and reasonable rates. Our membership of nearly ninety organizations is a combination of renewable energy businesses, large energy users, and environmental and consumer groups.