Ørsted’s Nightmare: Stock Collapses as Trump’s Policies Paralyze US Wind Market

Danish energy firm Ørsted is living a corporate nightmare, with its stock collapsing to a historic low after the Trump administration’s policies paralyzed the US wind market. The company was forced to announce a desperate $9 billion fundraising effort to cope with the sudden financial crisis.
The paralysis stems from a White House-led review of all wind permitting and leasing, which has brought the industry to a standstill. This has made it impossible for Ørsted to use its standard financing method of selling stakes in developing projects to raise capital, a cornerstone of its growth strategy.
CEO Rasmus Errboe has labeled the situation “extraordinary,” pointing to a perfect storm of hostile US policy and difficult supply chain conditions. The need for such a massive capital injection highlights the severe and immediate impact of the market freeze on the company’s health.
The Danish government, which owns half of Ørsted, is supporting the fundraising plan. However, the event has sent a chill through the entire renewable energy sector, with fears that the US, once a promising market, could become a major obstacle to global decarbonization efforts.