A sudden electricity crunch in the US, driven by artificial intelligence, is colliding headlong with the Trump administration’s attacks on wind and solar. President Donald Trump has presented his anti-renewable stance as a way to cut energy costs — but a new analysis suggests limiting energy development at a time of high demand will result in Americans paying even more for power.
The new report from clean energy think tank Energy Innovation suggests higher energy bills will continue for the next decade, tied directly to Trump’s policies. It comes as energy affordability is emerging as a key issue in this year’s midterm elections.
A year ago, Republicans in Congress killed a clean energy law that had contained billions in subsidies for renewables, electric vehicles, rooftop solar and household batteries. The administration has made it harder to permit clean energy projects and has tipped the scales in favor of more expensive coal-fired power. And Trump’s government has waged a largely successful onslaught against the budding electric vehicle market in the US.
Energy Sec. Chris Wright said he was “thrilled” to celebrate the anniversary of Trump ending the clean energy tax credits last week, calling renewable energy “low-value.” Republicans, including Wright, have criticized solar and wind as unreliable and intermittent, driving up Americans’ electricity prices.
