In one of his first decisions on the Return to the White House, Donald Trump has signed an executive order temporarily suspending the issuance of licenses, loans, and lease for land energy projects (onshore) and offshore.
The decision can bring favorable winds to the bands of southern America. Brazil is one of the countries that tend to benefit from the migration of investments in renewable energy that would previously be destined to the United States.
Trump’s decision occurred days after the sanction, here in Brazil, of the regulatory framework for the generation of offshore wind energy in the high seas. The lack of legislation was a large obstacle to the exploitation of this modality. The first auction to grant federal maritime areas for this purpose is scheduled for this year.
Subscribing to the suspension of incentives in the US, Trump stated that wind farms kill whales and criticized the intermittence of this type of energy, which according to him generates energy insecurity. He also said that wind turbines are “horrible”, only work with subsidies and are “many times” more expensive than natural gas, as reported by Agency AP.
“Let’s not do the wind thing. Large and ugly windmills. They arrange their neighborhood. They are the most expensive form of energy you can have from afar. They kill their birds and arrange their beautiful landscapes, ”said Trump.
Amid strong expansion in recent years, especially in the Northeast, wind energy faces questions in Brazil as well. Often installed in remote areas, parks can cause significant changes in the daily life of the community, with side effects ranging from deforestation and noise to health problems for the surrounding population.
Trump’s executive order also determines the review of criteria to evaluate the economic and environmental impact of wind turbines on new projects, as well as considering the intermittence and effects of federal subsidies on the viability of this industry. The rules are valid for future licenses, if any, and does not change those in progress.
Wind energy is today the largest clean source in the US, producing about 10% of the country’s energy, according to AP, with data from American Clean Power Association.
According to the US Department of Energy, the country has 92,000 wind turbines, distributed by 13 states. In four of them, wind energy is responsible for about 40% of electricity supply.
In 2023, US $ 2.1 billion were invested in the American offshore wind industry to develop ports, vessels, supply chain and transmission. The industry there employs more than 125,000 workers.
Trump also criticized his predecessor, Joe Biden, who approved 11 wind farms on a commercial scale and prohibited oil drilling in most of the US coast. Trump’s goal is to increase oil and gas exploration.
How Trump’s decision can favor wind energy in Brazil
Trump’s decision can bring favorable winds to Brazil. This is because investments that would initially be destined to the US can be redirected here, where there are incentives for the expansion of this type of generation.
Paulo Pedrosa, president of the Brazilian Association of Large Industrial Energy Consumers and Free Consumers (Abrace), says that Trump’s position ends up being an advantage to Brazil, where renewable sources are cheaper and encouraged.
“Brazil has natural resources, stability and good relationship with the world. If we do not spoil our potential for cheap and clean energy, we can transform our society by producing with good price and low emission what the world needs, ”he says.
Elbia Gannoum, president of the Brazilian Association of Wind Energy and New Technologies (Abeeólica), shows concern about the fact that a power like the US is opposed to the growth of renewable sources energy and betting even more on oil.
“I have no doubt that this resumption of US -led oil investments will affect investments in renewable energy in countries. And this discussion about the weather will be very fierce, ”says Elbia.
In his assessment, the scenario will be divided between the United States, for oil, and China, which leads technology in renewables: “This will affect global production. The question is how this configuration will be to Brazil. ”
On the other hand, Elbia agrees that Brazil benefits from Trump’s refusal: “Capital (for renewable energy) will migrate from the United States to other geographies and in this regard I think Brazil ends up having an advantage.”