WIND ENERGY MITIGATION AGREEMENTS

On 2026-09-29, Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) delivered a floor speech titled "WIND ENERGY MITIGATION AGREEMENTS" in the Senate.

WIND ENERGY MITIGATION AGREEMENTS

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 154 (Tuesday, September 29, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 154 (Tuesday, September 29, 2026)] [Senate] [Page S5159] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] WIND ENERGY MITIGATION AGREEMENTS Mr. GRASSLEY. Madam President, for over a year, the Department of Defense has stopped signing wind energy mitigation agreements through its Siting Clearinghouse, which is negatively impacting energy projects in Iowa. The reason the Pentagon Office of Energy, Installations, and Environment has provided for halting mitigation agreements is that the Department is reevaluating its process, analyzing threats to national security. I agree that the Department of Defense must ensure projects do not put national security at risk. That said, the Department has been ``reevaluating the process'' for over a year. We have the most capable military and intelligence in the world. The Pentagon has the ability to identify and mitigate risks in a timelier fashion--especially given that wind energy projects are nothing new, nor are these agreements. Given the current administration's hostility to wind energy, it makes me wonder if this reevaluation is being used as an excuse to hamstring these projects. In addition to the capabilities the Pentagon has, not all wind energy projects pose the same concerns to national security based on the location of the project. For example, Iowa is a landlocked State. The projects underway in Iowa are not going to have the same level of national security concern as, say, a project where there are several major Active-Duty military installations, global shipping ports, and international border access points. I have raised concerns with the Pentagon and administration officials and have spoken directly with Secretary Hegseth about the importance of these projects for Iowa. I stressed that the mitigation agreement process must restart in a timely manner. Unfortunately, I have not been given an answer from the Pentagon on June, July, and September 2026 inquiries. This is unacceptable. Congress established the Siting Clearinghouse through the fiscal year 2011 National Defense Authorization Act, to evaluate and explore impacts and mitigation options related to alternative energy production to preserve military missions. Since its establishment, energy projects have been able to work with the Siting Clearinghouse to mitigate any concerns raised and agree on the most appropriate path forward. Wind energy is extremely important in Iowa. Iowa is a top leader in wind power capacity and share of total electricity generation. Delays in new wind energy projects mean holdups in energy generation and independence, which can lower energy prices for consumers. Unfortunately, the Department of Defense does not seem to recognize the importance of timely action. I am supportive of provisions in the fiscal year 2027 National Defense Authorization Act that would put tighter timelines on the Pentagon for completing these agreements. It is important that wind energy projects can continue and that the bureaucratic redtape blocking Iowa wind projects is disposed of soon. ____________________