Wind Energy Leaders Warn of Trump’s Green Backlash

​Wind Energy Pioneers Warn of a Changing Tide
Two titans of the wind energy world — Henrik Stiesdal of Denmark and Andrew Garrad of the U.K. — have sounded the alarm over what they call a dangerous shift in global attitudes toward clean energy. Known as the “Godfathers of Wind,” both engineers say President Donald Trump’s campaign against renewable energy reflects a broader climate backlash taking root across the West.

“We are facing right now a change of mood,” Garrad told CNBC. “We had a very easy beginning, then quite a big struggle, then general acceptance — and now the worm is turning.”

Trump has spent the year undoing clean energy programs, halting offshore projects, and rolling back green incentives introduced under former President Joe Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act.

A Political Storm Over Wind
Garrad called Trump’s war on wind “a symptom of a general shift” away from renewables, warning that such policy reversals could stall decades of progress. “It’s a personal decision by a politician, who happens to be a rather powerful one,” he said. “And it has sent shockwaves around the place.”

Danish wind energy leader Ørsted, the world’s largest offshore wind developer, has been among the hardest hit. The company posted a 1.7 billion Danish kroner loss for the third quarter, compared to a profit of over 5 billion kroner a year earlier. Its shares have dropped more than 80% since 2021 after Trump’s administration ordered a halt on a nearly completed wind project.

“Pathetic” and “Expensive” — Trump’s Harsh Words
Trump has made his disdain for wind energy no secret. At the United Nations General Assembly, he labeled offshore turbines “pathetic” and “expensive,” vowing to stop what he called “the green energy scam.” He went as far as to claim that climate change itself was “the greatest con job ever perpetrated on the world.”

Scientists swiftly condemned his remarks, pointing out that climate change is already driving record-breaking heatwaves, floods, and hurricanes with heavy economic and human tolls.

Industry Pushback and Global Uncertainty
Wind turbine manufacturer Vestas is also feeling the pressure but remains determined to stay active in the U.S. market. CEO Henrik Andersen said the company maintains a “well-established” American supply chain despite headwinds.

“For us, the U.S. is part of our core responsibility,” Andersen said. “Not everyone likes the look of wind turbines, but energy decisions ultimately come down to cost and practicality.”

Across Europe, industry insiders fear that Trump’s actions could embolden anti-renewable movements elsewhere, undermining momentum for the global energy transition.

The Case for Energy Security
Stiesdal, a pioneer credited with designing the first offshore wind farm, avoided direct political commentary but emphasized that renewables are about more than climate goals. “Energy security, job creation, and local economic benefits — these are what renewables bring,” he said.

He added that many voters who support right-wing leaders actually benefit from renewables through cheaper power bills and new local jobs, even if political rhetoric suggests otherwise.

“It’s not an easy fight,” Stiesdal said. “A lot of it is visceral — a tribal way of thinking. But we have to remind people of the security and prosperity clean energy brings.”

Recognition Amid Turbulence
Despite the political storm, Stiesdal and Garrad were recently honored with the Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering for their lifetime achievements in transforming wind power into one of the world’s most important clean energy sources.

​Their warning comes as the world gathers for COP30 in Brazil, where Trump’s renewed climate skepticism looms large. For now, the “Godfathers of Wind” remain hopeful — but they admit the fight for renewables has entered its toughest chapter yet.