Trump admin moves to sue windmill company $32,000 for bald eagle deaths

In March 2024, a bald eagle was found dead near a turbine at Ørsted’s Plum Creek facility in Wayne County, Nebraska, per Fox News. The National Fish and Wildlife Forensics Laboratory determined through a necropsy that the bird died from a collision with the turbine. Another eagle was found dead near the company’s Lincoln Land, Illinois turbine facility in April 2025. Necropsy results also showed that the bird’s death was consistent with a collision with the windmill.

The Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed two fines of $16,170 each, one for each bird killed, totaling $32,340. The agency sent a violation notice to the company saying that it had violated the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act by killing the birds without an "incidental take permit." The agency is giving the company 45 days to respond before it seals the penalties.

A spokesperson for the Plum Creek and Lincoln Land facilities told the outlet that Ørsted had received the letter on October 29 and said the company "will continue to engage and cooperate with USFWS on this matter."

Ørsted Onsore, a subsidiary of Ørsted A/S, operates 13 wind farms across the US. In addition to wind farms both on land and offshore, the company also develops, constructs, and operates solar farms, bioenergy plants, and energy storage facilities. It was one of the companies touted by the Biden administration as examples of its clean energy goals and economic plans.

The violation notice sent to the company stated that while Ørsted does not have any prior wildlife violations, it continued to not hold an incidental take permit despite realizing the danger its windmills posed following the 2024 bird death. The notice also said that the company had showed good faith by voluntarily notifying the agency of the kills, and cooperating with preserving the carcasses.

The notice read, however, that "the gravity of these violations is serious," noting that "while bald eagle numbers have increased markedly from pre-listing lows, the species still faces myriad threats from humans." It continued, "Bald eagles and golden eagles are trust species of the United States and of religious and cultural significance to Native Americans. The US government takes its responsibility to protect eagles seriously."