Wind Power Under Siege: Ørsted Stock Collapses After US Market Freeze

The offshore wind power industry is under siege, as demonstrated by the dramatic stock collapse of its leader, Ørsted. The Danish company’s shares plunged to their lowest point in history following a forced $9 billion fundraising announcement, a direct consequence of a US market freeze by the Trump administration.
The freeze was implemented through a full-scale review of wind project permitting, a move that has paralyzed the industry’s financial ecosystem. Ørsted can no longer rely on selling project stakes to raise capital, a fundamental part of its business model that has been rendered useless by the policy shift.
Rasmus Errboe, Ørsted’s chief executive, acknowledged the “extraordinary” nature of the crisis. He cited the combination of US political antagonism and supply chain difficulties as the key factors that pushed the company into this precarious financial position.
The Danish government is backing its national champion’s rescue plan, but the incident has sent a chilling message to investors and climate advocates alike. The situation has thrown the future of US renewable energy into question and threatens to slow down the global fight against climate change.