Scientists Identify Airborne Microplastic Spread From Sewage, Coastal Winds

The Trump administration in 2025 has halted plans for new offshore wind energy developments on federal waters and ended preferential treatment for wind energy, labeling it an 'unreliable' source. This policy shift reverses the previous administration’s efforts to expand offshore wind leasing and favors fossil fuels, despite wind energy currently supplying over 10% of the U.S. power and widespread reliance on renewables in states like California and Texas. U.S. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum confirmed the cessation of future offshore wind lease sales and potential halting of onshore wind projects on federal lands. Meanwhile, a March 2025 peer-reviewed study from Poland found no causal link between wind turbine noise and adverse health effects, aligning with decades of research from global health agencies. The study noted that noise annoyance and sleep disturbances near turbines are comparable to those caused by other environmental noises and may be influenced by negative perceptions rather than the sound itself. These developments highlight ongoing controversy and mixed public and political attitudes towards wind energy as a key component of the renewable energy economy.