Biden at a Wind Tower Plant: Blades 'Longer Than a Football Field,' '130,000 Grand' and 'I Knew You'd Have a Lousy Question' (August 9, 2023)

President Joe Biden came to a wind tower factory in New Mexico to sell his green energy agenda, and he described the size of the blades. “By the way, I was in Eastern Colorado looking at the blades manufacturer. Those blades are a hundred and three yards long, longer than a football field,” Biden said on Aug. 9, 2023, according to the transcript published by the American Presidency Project [1].

“And by the way, wind energy is cheaper than fossil fuel. Solar energy is cheaper,” he said [1].

He started by explaining what the plant makes. “Arcosa makes wind turbines—wind towers. Those—that’s the thing that holds—most—when I say that, people think at me like wind tower—you all know what a wind tower is. They look at my like, ‘What the hell is a wind tower?’ [ Laughter ]” Biden said [1].

The video above shows Biden at the Arcosa Wind Towers plant in Belen, New Mexico, on Aug. 9, 2023. Quotes are from the American Presidency Project’s transcript and pool reports and from the White House [1][2][3].

“130,000 Grand”

Biden also talked up computer chip plants. “They’re building fabs. They’re just called factories. They’re the size of a football field, not much wider than this. And guess what? Average salary is about 130,000 grand. And guess what? You don’t need a college degree,” he said [1].

“Look, folks, that’s Bidenomics,” Biden said [1].

He told the plant’s history. “In 2008, Solo cup factory shut down right here, right where we’re standing. Two hundred people lost their jobs,” Biden said [1]. The pool added a “fun fact: The Arcosa plant used to manufacture Red Solo Cups, a staple of nearly every college party.” [2]

“GE Verona—Excuse Me”

Biden stumbled over a company name. “Arcosa makes wind towers that’s going to go into turbines made by GE Verona—excuse me, I mispronounced it: Vernova—in Florida and New York,” he said [1].

He explained where the name “Bidenomics” came from. “But look, the Financial Times and the Wall Street Journal have started to call—have started to call my plan ‘Bidenomics.’ Initially, I don’t think they meant it with a great deal of respect. [ Laughter ]” Biden said [1].

“I’m a capitalist. When the middle class does well, everybody does well. The poor have a way up, and the rich were able to be very rich. Just make sure they pay a little more of their taxes,” he said [1].

He also joked about his years in Washington. “I know I don’t look it, but I’ve been around a long time. [ Laughter ]” Biden said [1].

He closed with a challenge. “Think of any objective we’ve set as a goal that we’ve ever not met. Name one,” Biden said [1].

”You’re the Very Best, Kid”

Biden worked the crowd of New Mexico Democrats. “Governor, you are the very—where are you sitting?” he asked. “Over here!” an audience member answered. “You’re the very best, kid. You’re the best. [ Laughter ]” Biden said [1].

He lost track of a congresswoman. “And Teresa Leger Fernández, who isn’t here today, but they’re——” Biden began, before audience members shouted, “She’s over here!” “Well, there—yes, what am I thinking? I thought you had to leave,” he said [1].

He took a shot at a Republican without naming him; the Presidency Project’s note identifies him as Sen. Thomas H. Tuberville. “There is a distinguished Senator from the State of Alabama who used to be a pretty good football coach, and he’s railed against this legislation,” Biden said of a state getting broadband money. “I was inclined to go down and help him celebrate, but I decided not to.” [1]

“I Knew You’d Have a Lousy Question”

On the way out, Fox News’ Peter Doocy asked about Hunter Biden. “He was asked about the testimony from Hunter Biden business associate Devon Archer who told Congress that then VP Biden sat in on his son’s business calls,” the pool reported [2].

“‘I knew you’d have a lousy question,’ POTUS responded. When asked why it was a lousy question, POTUS responded, ‘Because it’s not true,’” according to the pool [2].

Not everyone in Belen welcomed the motorcade. “A crowd of Trump supporters heckled the motorcade as it drove through Belen as they waived their Trump signs,” the pooler wrote [2].

By the Numbers

103 yards: the blade length Biden cited [1].
$130,000: the average chip-plant salary Biden cited [1].
200: jobs lost when the Solo cup plant closed in 2008, per Biden [1].
28 minutes: Biden spoke from 1:12 to 1:40 p.m., per the pool [2].

What Happened Next

Trump reversed course on wind. On his first day back in office, President Donald Trump withdrew offshore areas from new wind leasing. “I hereby withdraw from disposition for wind energy leasing all areas within the Offshore Continental Shelf (OCS),” the Jan. 20, 2025, memorandum says, citing “effects on energy costs for Americans” [3].

For Biden’s Milwaukee claim that America “invented” chips “when we went to the Moon” six days later, see HYGO News’ page on Aug. 15, 2023. For Jean-Pierre on Devon Archer, see the page on July 25, 2023.