Calls to Dismantle Offshore Wind Farms
Donald Trump, the future U.S. president, has demanded the removal of wind turbines from the North Sea. In a post on his platform Truth Social, the 78-year-old shared a report from November detailing the planned withdrawal of the American oil company Apache from the region. Trump criticized the United Kingdom for what he called a “very big mistake” in its energy policies.
“Open up the North Sea. Take down the wind turbines!” Trump wrote, reiterating his criticism of renewable energy. During his campaign last fall, he mocked Germany for its reliance on wind energy, claiming, “They put up wind turbines everywhere, and the wind didn’t blow strongly enough. If they had continued, Germany would now be bankrupt.” Contrary to Trump’s claims, Germany has steadily increased its wind turbine installations in recent years.
Oil Companies Pulling Out
The report Trump referenced explains Apache’s decision to exit the North Sea by 2029, citing high taxes that make oil production unprofitable. Britain’s government, led by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, has shifted its focus toward greener energy. New licenses for oil and gas exploration in the North Sea are no longer being issued.
The policy shift aligns with the UK’s commitment to offshore wind energy, a major component of its climate strategy. While oil and gas production in the North Sea began on a large scale around 1970, companies have gradually withdrawn over the past 20 years due to dwindling reserves.
Returning to Fossil Fuels and Climate Policy
Trump’s criticism also reflects his longstanding preference for fossil fuels and skepticism about climate change. His call for the removal of wind turbines follows Britain’s increased taxes on oil production in its waters last year. Trump reacted to Apache’s announcement, which predicts a 20% drop in North Sea production by 2025 compared to 2024. The U.S. oil giant Exxon had already exited the region entirely in 2024.
During his first term as president (2017–2021), Trump rolled back numerous environmental and climate protections. He also withdrew the U.S. from the Paris Climate Agreement in 2020, a move his successor, Joe Biden, reversed. However, Trump has promised to abandon the agreement again if he takes office.
Trump’s comments reignite debates about the balance between renewable energy and fossil fuels in global energy strategies. As countries like the UK push forward with alternative energy, Trump’s call to dismantle wind farms highlights the sharp divide in approaches to tackling climate change.