Exclusive: Wind projects pile up as Pentagon reviews stall
Plus: My bylines from the world's energy Super Bowl in Houston
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My coverage during CERAWeek, the world’s most influential energy conference, in Houston last week:
Exclusive: Wind projects pile up as Pentagon reviews stall
More than two dozen wind farms across the U.S. are being delayed as the Trump administration sits on military reviews that were once considered routine.
Why it matters: The delays are dragging down a race led by tech companies — and backed by President Trump — to build power-hungry data centers to lead the global AI race.
By the numbers: At least 30 onshore wind farms projects are affected by the Pentagon paperwork logjam, according to Jason Grumet, head of the American Clean Power Association.
At roughly 200 to 300 megawatts each, that’s about 7.5 gigawatts of stalled capacity.
Even accounting for the variability of wind, those farms could produce enough electricity to power several cities — or multiple large data centers.
The reviews are necessary to make sure the wind farms’ turbines won’t interfere with military radar or aviation systems.
Driving the news: The trade group is waiting to hear back on a letter it sent earlier this month to Assistant Secretary of War Dale Marks asking him to explain what is causing the delays.
What they’re saying: “It is quite astounding that in the midst of this discussion about making the permitting system and governing system more efficient, we just have direct obstruction,” Grumet told Axios in an interview.
Grumet’s comments, on the sidelines of the CERAWeek conference last week, as part of an upcoming episode of the Shocked podcast, represent his first public comments on the matter.
How it works: The clearance processes are usually routine, and the Pentagon negotiates any fixes that need to be made.
It’s the so-called “mitigation agreements” that are suddenly piling up unsigned in the last several months.
The big picture: Trump has long shown disdain for renewable energy, especially wind energy–and even more specifically, the offshore variety.
He has moved to slow the renewable energy buildout in numerous ways, including revoking leases and stalling federal permits across the federal government.
At the same time, virtually all energy developers — alongside the Trump administration — say they want a permitting overhaul to expedite such reviews.
Flashback: Even for his style, Trump has been remarkably transparent: “My goal is to not let any windmill be built,” he said at a White House meeting earlier this year. “They’re losers.”
The intrigue: In lawsuits over the president’s efforts to kneecap offshore wind projects, the administration has cited national security concerns.
Grumet said the administration might be trying to reconcile its legal argument — which failed multiple times in court — by asserting new, and what Grumet describes as similarly unproven, national security concerns over land-based wind.
Between the lines: The administration’s position on wind energy is uneven though.
Last week, the Interior Department announced a rare agreement with Totalenergies, a French energy company, to cancel its offshore wind leases totaling $1 billion and repurpose that money toward oil and gas projects.
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, who oversaw wind power growth as North Dakota governor, told Axios at last week’s CERAWeek conference in Houston that onshore wind is more affordable and has fewer national security concerns.
“North Dakota is not an attack vector,” Burgum said when asked to explain his shifting position. “Being literally in the center of North America is not a spot where we have to worry about drone attacks or submarine attacks coming.”
The other side: The Pentagon and the White House didn’t respond to requests for comment by press time.
What we’re watching: These delays — and the unusual deal struck last week with Totalenergies — are likely to become flashpoints in Washington’s protracted debate over permitting reform.
Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), the top Democrat on the Senate Energy Committee, accused Trump of causing high energy prices with the Iran war and criticized the Pentagon delays.
“If he was serious about lowering energy costs, he should stop stalling permits and start supporting made-in-America clean energy solutions,” Heinrich said in a statement to Axios.
Reality check: The odds Congress will pass permitting reform this year is now 25%, down from 30% based on analysis updated Thursday by consulting firm Rapidan Energy Group.
What’s next: In its letter to the Pentagon, the renewable energy trade group hints it could sue under federal administrative law if it doesn’t hear back by April 8.
Podcast’ing in Houston
Sneak peak into what’s in store for our Shocked podcast!
Hosting in Houston
Axios hosted a dinner conversation to kick off CERAWeek on Sunday, March 22.