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Winnipeg Free Press
an hour ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
FACT FOCUS: Trump misrepresents facts about wind power during Cabinet meeting
President Donald Trump expressed his disdain for wind power during a meeting with his Cabinet recently, calling it an expensive form of energy that 'smart' countries don't use. His comments on Tuesday contained false and misleading information about the use of wind power in the United States and around the world, and came on the heels of an executive order he signed Monday that would end subsidies around 'green' energy. Here's a look at the facts. CLAIM: 'Wind is a very expensive form of energy.' THE FACTS: Onshore wind is one of the cheapest sources of electricity generation, with new wind farms expected to produce electricity around $30 per megawatt hour. This compares to a new natural gas plant, around $65 per megawatt hour, or a new advanced nuclear reactor, which runs over $80, according to estimates from the Energy Information Administration. Onshore wind farms cost less to build and operate than natural gas plants on average in most regions of the United States, even without tax credits. Though natural gas plants are available to produce electricity at any time of the day, unlike wind. Offshore wind is among the sources of new power generation that will cost the most to build and operate, at $88 per megawatt hour, according to the EIA. While electricity rates have risen nationwide over the past decade, states that have added a significant amount of onshore wind power, such as Iowa, Kansas, Oklahoma and New Mexico, have kept rates from rising as fast as other states, said Brendan Pierpont, director of electricity modeling at the nonpartisan think tank Energy Innovation. For example, the share of electricity generated from wind in Iowa increased from 15% in 2010 to nearly 60% of the state's electricity generation in 2023, while the state's electricity rates grew at a rate slower than that of 42 other states, his research found. Wind power can be expensive if it's built where winds are weaker, but the United States is adding it in places with strong wind resources, he added. 'Wind should be seen as part of an overall portfolio of electricity system resources and is an important part of keeping costs down,' he said Wednesday. Trump has committed to increasing U.S. energy production, particularly fossil fuels. He signed an executive order Monday aimed at phasing out tax credits for wind and solar facilities. CLAIM: Wind turbines are 'almost exclusively' made in China, but President Xi Jinping told Trump they have 'very, very few.' THE FACTS: China is the world's largest manufacturer of wind turbines, producing more than half of the supply. It is also installing them in China at a record pace. In total, China has 1.3 terawatts of utility-scale wind and solar capacity in development, which could generate more electricity than neighboring Japan consumed in all of 2023, according to a report from the Global Energy Monitor released Wednesday. The report highlighted China's offshore wind development, calling China the undisputed leader in the offshore wind sector, though it also said coal and gas are still on the rise across China. 'The whole narrative that we're led to believe in the West is that China is building coal plants and that it's doing nothing for its carbon footprint,' Tom Harper, partner at the global consultant Baringa, said Tuesday. 'So the surprising thing is China is building a portfolio of zero-carbon resources that are designed to not perfectly complement each other, but to work alongside each other to reduce reliance on fossil fuels.' CLAIM: 'If you look at smart countries, they don't use it.' THE FACTS: At least 136 countries around the world use wind power to generate electricity, according to the EIA, with many countries growing the amount they produce. The top five markets for wind power in 2024 were China, the U.S., Brazil, India and Germany, while Uzbekistan, Egypt and Saudi Arabia represent the next wave of wind energy growth, according to the Global Wind Energy Council. Council CEO Ben Backwell said 2024 marked yet another record year for wind energy growth, with the 'industry increasingly pushing into new regions.' Michael Gerrard, director of the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law at Columbia University, disputed the idea that smart countries don't use wind power. China is soaring ahead in building a massive amount of wind power while Germany, the United Kingdom, Finland, Spain, Sweden, France and many other countries in Europe have large programs of wind construction, he said Wednesday. 'By cutting back on wind power development, the U.S. is ceding the lead to China in this important technology, and killing a lot of U.S. jobs,' Gerrard said in an e-mail. CLAIM: In New England, two whales washed up over 50 years, 'and last summer they had 14 washed up. Now, I'm not saying that's the wind farm that was built, that maybe it is right.' THE FACTS: There are no known links between large whale deaths and ongoing offshore wind activities, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. NOAA says it analyzes the causes of death whenever possible, following the science and data. Unfounded claims about offshore wind threatening whales have surfaced as a flashpoint in the fight over the future of renewable energy. The nation's first commercial-scale offshore wind farm officially opened in 2024 east of Montauk Point, New York. The nation's second-largest offshore wind farm is under construction off the coast of Massachusetts. A five-turbine pilot project has been operating since 2016 off the coast of Rhode Island. CLAIM: 'The birds are dying all over the place.' THE FACTS: Turbines, like all infrastructure, can pose a risk to birds. However, the National Audubon Society, which is dedicated to the conservation of birds, thinks developers can manage these risks and climate change is a greater threat. An Audubon report found that two-thirds of North American bird species could face extinction due to rising temperatures. In January, the nonprofit said responsible offshore wind development is a clear win for birds, the U.S. economy and the climate. Currently on hiatus A review of funny, uplifting news in Winnipeg and around the globe. 'While persistent myths claim widespread and devastating effects of offshore wind turbines on wildlife, the science tells a different story. Our findings clearly indicate that we can responsibly deploy offshore wind in a manner that still protects birds and their habitats,' Sam Wojcicki, Audubon's senior director for climate policy, wrote in a January post. The organization also supports wind energy on land when it is sited and operated properly to minimize the impact on birds and other wildlife. CLAIM: 'You can't take them down because the environmentalists don't let you bury the blades.' THE FACTS: Wind turbine blades are challenging to recycle. They are designed for durability to withstand hurricane-force winds. However, the U.S. already has the ability to recycle most wind turbine materials, according to the Department of Energy. It issued a report in January that found 90% of wind turbines can be recycled using existing infrastructure, while new strategies and innovative recycling methods will be needed to tackle the rest. The wind power industry acknowledges that the disposal of wind turbine blades is an issue. Danish wind energy developer Ørsted committed in 2021 to never sending turbine blades to landfill, instead reusing, recycling or otherwise recovering them. ___ Find AP Fact Checks here:
CTV News
an hour ago
- CTV News
Canadian pharmaceutical industry alarmed after Trump floats 200 per cent tariff
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a lunch with African leaders in the State Dining Room of the White House on Wednesday, July 9, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) WASHINGTON — An pharmaceutical industry representative says Canada likely isn't the main target of U.S. President Donald Trump's threat to impose a 200 per cent tariff on pharmaceutical imports — but his plan could still put parts of the Canadian sector in peril. Canadian Generic Pharmaceutical Association president Jim Keon says there's a risk that Canada will get caught in the crossfire as Trump pushes to reduce Americans' reliance on drugs imported from places like China and India. On Tuesday, Trump floated the idea of massive pharmaceutical tariffs but said he would give drug makers up to a year and a half before introducing the duties. Keon says Canadian exports amount to less than five per cent of all generic medicines sold in the U.S. But without access to the American market, he says, it might not be practical for some companies in Canada to continue producing certain generic medicines for the domestic market. Keon says there is hope that the economic and security agreement being negotiated between Canada and the United States will ensure pharmaceuticals remain tariff-free. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 9, 2025. Kelly Geraldine Malone, The Canadian Press
CBC
an hour ago
- CBC
Trump issues tariff letters to 7 more trading partners as talks with EU continue
Social Sharing U.S. President Donald Trump issued final tariff notices to seven minor trading partners on Wednesday as his administration inched closer to a deal with its biggest trading partner, the European Union. Trump said in posts on his Truth Social media platform that starting Aug. 1, he would impose a 20 per cent tariff on goods from the Philippines, 30 per cent on goods from Sri Lanka, Algeria, Iraq and Libya, and 25 per cent on Brunei and Moldova. No letter was issued to the EU, but Trump had said late on Tuesday that he would issue "a minimum of seven" tariff notices on Wednesday morning and more in the afternoon. The latest letters add to 14 others sent out earlier in the week, including 25 per cent tariffs for powerhouse U.S. suppliers South Korea and Japan, also set to take effect Aug. 1, barring any deals reached before then. They came a day after Trump said he was broadening his trade war by imposing a 50 per cent tariff on imported copper and would soon introduce long-threatened levies on semiconductors and pharmaceuticals. The U.S. president's rapid-fire tariff moves have cast a shadow over the global economic outlook, paralyzing business decision-making. WATCH | How will U.S. copper tariffs affect Canada's trade talks?: How will U.S. copper tariffs affect Canada's trade talks? 23 hours ago Duration 9:15 EU negotiations still underway Trump said trade talks have been going well with China and the European Union, the latter of which is the biggest bilateral trading partner of the U.S. Trump said he would "probably" tell the EU within two days what rate it could expect for its exports to the U.S., adding that the 27-nation bloc had become much more co-operative. "They treated us very badly until recently, and now they're treating us very nicely. It's like a different world, actually," he said. EU trade chief Maroš Šefčovič said good progress had been made on a framework trade agreement and a deal may even be possible within days. Šefčovič told EU lawmakers he hoped that negotiators could finalize their work soon, with additional time now as the U.S. deadline was extended, from July 9 to Aug. 1. WATCH | Trump's tariff threat looms over Canadian industries: Trump's tariff threat looms over Canadian industries | Hanomansing Tonight 3 hours ago Duration 4:07 For the second time in his presidency, Donald Trump is threatening sweeping tariffs on global imports — and while Canada wasn't named directly, trade experts say we're far from safe. Carlo Dade, director of the Canada West Foundation's trade and investment centre, says Trump's threats are part of a broader strategy that could hit Canadian industries hard if we don't pay attention. "I hope to reach a satisfactory conclusion, potentially even in the coming days," he said. However, Italian Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti had earlier warned that talks between the two sides were "very complicated" and could continue right up to the deadline. Highest tariff levels since 1934 Equity markets shrugged off the U.S. Republican president's latest tariff salvo on Wednesday, while the yen remained on the back foot after the levies imposed on Japan. Following Trump's announcement of higher tariffs for imports from the 14 countries, U.S. research group Yale Budget Lab estimated consumers face an effective U.S. tariff rate of 17.6 per cent, up from 15.8 per cent previously and the highest in nine decades. Trump's administration has been touting those tariffs as a significant revenue source. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Washington has taken in about $100 billion US so far and could collect $300 billion US by the end of the year. In recent years, the United States had taken in about $80 billion US annually in tariff revenue. The Trump administration promised "90 deals in 90 days" after he unveiled an array of country-specific duties in early April. So far, only two agreements have been reached, with Britain and Vietnam. Trump has said a deal with India was close. Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey, a Democrat, blasted Trump for his "failed trade war."
