President-elect Donald Trump raised attention with his comments on the wind energy industry during a recent press conference. He criticized the wind power sector, claiming it relies heavily on government subsidies and is more expensive than other energy sources.
1. Trump's Critique: Trump described wind farms negatively, likening them to "dropping garbage in a field. " He claimed that wind developers profit from government subsidies and argued that wind energy is costlier compared to "clean natural gas. "
2. Expert Analysis: Experts have supported Trump's assertions, indicating that when considering all costs related to deploying wind and solar farms, wind energy is indeed more expensive.
3. Electricity Rates in the U. S. : While The New York Times noted that wind makes up a significant portion of the electricity generated in states like Texas (22%) and Iowa (59%), it did not mention the overall rising electricity prices. According to a report from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, retail electricity prices in the U. S. have increased along with inflation from 2019 to 2023.
4. Subsidy Costs: Trump emphasized the dependency of the wind industry on federal subsidies. Since 2017, federal subsidies for wind and solar have surged significantly, with projections suggesting production tax credits will see a dramatic increase in costs in the coming years.
5. Comparative Costs of Energy: The data shows that the levelized cost of wind and solar energy, often reported as cheaper than natural gas, does not include significant "hidden costs. " These hidden costs encompass necessary investments for grid reliability, such as transmission lines and battery storage.
6. Misrepresentation of Data: Experts from Always On Energy criticize reliance on the levelized cost of energy (LCOE) metric, stating it is often misused when comparing renewable energy with conventional energy sources. They provide findings showing much higher costs per megawatt hour for wind and solar compared to natural gas.
7. Unrealistic Reporting: The analysis by Mitch and Rolling indicates that reports such as Lazard's may present unrealistic assumptions about wind energy costs. They argue that the inconsistencies in these reports lead to misunderstandings about the true cost competitiveness of wind and solar power.
Trump's comments about wind energy have sparked a debate about its actual costs and reliability. He argues that wind energy is more costly when accounting for hidden expenses and necessary subsidies. Experts echo his views, questioning the data frequently cited by proponents of renewable energy.
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