Rep. McNerney Responds to President Trump’s Recent Windmill Claims

Washington, DC – In response to a series of false statements made by President Trump regarding wind energy, Congressman Jerry McNerney (CA-09) – a former wind energy engineer – issued the following statement:

“Once again, President Trump is claiming to be an expert on a subject for which he has had no training or lived experience whatsoever. I spent more than 25 years in the wind energy industry – from dodging blades while building the first windmills to working with some of the foremost energy companies in the world to continue to improve these technologies. The president claims to know a lot about wind, but I worked for more than two and a half decades in this industry and there are some facts that he left out.

“To start, the president neglected to mention that wind energy produces no harmful emissions. Fossil fuels, however, release copious amounts of pollutants into our atmosphere, including carbon dioxide and methane – both of which contribute to climate change – as well as sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides that have been linked to chronic respiratory illnesses.

“He also left out the fact that wind energy is one of the most cost effective energy sources. The president’s own Department of Energy touts wind as one of the lowest-priced sources of energy, coming in at two to six cents per kilowatt-hour. Most importantly, it’s renewable and because it harnesses the power of naturally recurring weather patterns, the fuel is free. Wind energy also creates high-paying jobs. Wind turbine service technicians have been named the second fastest growing occupation in the United States, with a median income of more than $53,000 per year – which is well-above the $31,000 median annual income for an American worker.

“Unfortunately, in his relentless pursuit to undermine America’s energy innovation, the president is spreading inaccurate information that is blatantly false and comically absurd. However, it stops short of humorous when we recognize that the source of these outrageous comments is the person meant to lead our country. As elected officials, we have an obligation to act on the challenges facing our nation, of which the most pressing is climate change. The president’s persistent disinformation campaigns make a mockery of the highest office in our nation, and are an insult to the people we are meant to serve.”

Congressman McNerney is a member of the House Energy & Commerce Committee and the Science, Space and Technology Committee. During his career in wind energy, his work contributed to saving the equivalent of approximately 30 million barrels of oil, or 8.3 million tons of carbon dioxide.

Rep. Jerry McNerney serves the constituents of California’s 9th Congressional District that includes portions of San Joaquin, Contra Costa, and Sacramento Counties.