Heinrich, Whitehouse unbothered by Trump’s anti-wind comments

Key Democrats shrug as Trump bashes wind

Key Democratic negotiators on Tuesday shrugged off President Trump’s Monday remarks that he would not approve wind projects despite his support for a bipartisan bill that seeks to boost all forms of energy.

The bill in question, which aims to ease the path forward for various forms of energy including renewables and fossil fuels, cleared a major procedural hurdle on Monday with significant bipartisan support.

Minutes before the Senate started to vote on the matter, Trump said he would not approve more wind turbines.

“The bill hasn’t been fully negotiated,” he told reporters. “I will not approve wind turbines because wind turbines are a major loser.”

On Tuesday, however, Sens. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) expressed confidence that wind projects would move forward under the administration.

“As long as the agencies continue to come through with the representations and promises that they have made — and we will see more of that in the next few days — then on we go, and we chalk that up to him being 80,” Whitehouse told reporters.

The senator told The Hill that he expects the administration to abide by the assurances they have provided, though he did not say exactly what those promises were.

Heinrich similarly said that “the remarks were simultaneous with the White House actually putting out more wind projects, so I don’t think we can govern based on his off-the-cuff remarks.”

Meanwhile, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said Tuesday that if it passes, projects would be “treated equally under the new law.”

Welcome to The Hill’s Energy & Environment newsletter, I’m Rachel Frazin — keeping you up to speed on the policies impacting everything from oil and gas to new supply chains.

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