Why the Trump Administration Is Paying Billions to Abandon Wind Farms
Ask students: How did the Trump administration convince wind farm developers to abandon their projects? Where have offshore wind projects been abandoned?
Lawmakers from both parties are raising concerns about the Trump administration's spending decisions. In the latest example, the administration said it will pay nearly $1 billion to energy companies to abandon plans to build two wind farms off the U.S. coast. Liz Landers joins Amna Nawaz to discuss.
View the transcript of the story.
NOTE: If you are short on time, watch the video and complete this See, Think, Wonder activity: What did you notice? What did the story make you think about? What would you want to learn more about?
Warm-up Questions
- Who is the Trump administration paying to stop development?
- How did the Trump administration convince wind farm developers to abandon their projects?
- Where have offshore wind projects been abandoned?
- What was the reason that the Trump administration tried to block wind farms?
- Why are there questions about the legality of the payout?
Focus Questions
- Why do you think the Trump administration is trying to block the development of wind farms as a source of energy generation in the U.S.?
- Do you think the federal government should be investing more in renewable energy? Why or why not? And if so, how?
Media literacy: Examine the infographic below. Why do you think this information was included in the story? How does the information add to what is known about the Trump administration's push to remove wind power farms?
What Students Can Do
How much is the wind energy responsible for the power in your community? You can use this Power Profiler tool from the Environmental Protection Agency to find out.
- First, visit the site and type in your zip code in the field on the left.
- You'll notice that each zip code is tied to what is called a power "subregion." This is because power that is generated is shared across communities and state borders. Which subregion are you in?
- Notice the different types of energy; wind is a dark turquoise color.
- Next, compare your region's wind energy sources to the national average. What stands out to you?
- Finally, as a class, discuss — what do you think would replace wind energy in your community if wind farms were torn down?
Republished with permission from PBS News Hour Classroom.
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