London, July 29 (H.S.): During a discussion between U.S. President Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, a stark contrast emerged regarding wind energy. Trump labeled wind turbines as the most expensive and ugly energy, criticizing their aesthetic impact and claiming they rust within eight years. He asserted that oil and gas yield significantly more energy and described wind energy as unstable and heavily subsidized. Trump also mentioned that the U.S. had banned wind energy due to its alleged harm to birds.

In contrast, Starmer defended wind energy, highlighting its decreasing costs and vital role for Britain's energy independence and environmental commitments. He emphasized that wind energy is environmentally friendly, generated domestically, and reduces reliance on foreign energy sources. Furthermore, Starmer pointed out the job creation linked to wind energy projects in the UK, which align with both economic and climate objectives.

Trump continued his opposition by discussing the visibility of wind farms from his golf courses, branding them as costly and unattractive. However, his claims were countered by evidence suggesting that onshore wind is relatively inexpensive to generate, and offshore wind, despite higher initial costs, can be economically viable under the right conditions. Ed Miliband faced criticism regarding auction prices for offshore wind but maintained that it remains more economical than nuclear and fossil fuels.

Trump also claimed that offshore wind farms harm whales, a statement unsupported by significant evidence. Concerns about whale mortality are primarily linked to fishing practices and climate change. While bird fatalities from wind farms do occur, they are vastly outnumbered by threats from cats, power lines, and habitat destruction. Mitigation strategies, such as painting turbine blades, are being implemented to lower bird fatalities.

Despite Trump's assertion regarding the short lifespan of turbines, most last 20-25 years, and 96% of materials are recyclable. Manufacturing trends show that while China dominates turbine production, the UK’s sector is growing, fostering job opportunities. Trump’s alarming claims about wind energy primarily derive from construction-related accidents rather than operational hazards.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar