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President Trump hit the ground running when he started his second term and made it abundantly clear. Fossil fuels were the path forward, not renewable energy. With a promise to significantly increase domestic production, he signed a barrage of executive orders tasked with making that promise a reality. While declaring a national energy emergency, busting barriers of regulation, and improving the permitting approval process, President Trump additionally implemented measures to derail the development of new wind farms, illustrating a repowered interest and strategy for the future development of oil and gas production.

Although the Trump administration inked a ban on awarding federal permits and leases for onshore and offshore wind project development, the renewable sector strives to survive much like oil and gas did during the Biden reign. With support mustered by a bipartisan group of voters and significant investments made in clean technology projects throughout the country, the industry has portrayed noticeable growth.

While the headlines and rhetoric depict overwhelming support of one side over the other with no compromise, the big players of domestic oil and gas seek energy policies that promote increased stability, which includes financial incentives implemented by Former President Biden through his controversial Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).

Renewable energy companies have enacted combatting measures to justify their need for domestic soil. Oil and gas projects often carry elevated rates in CAPEX while wind and solar development seem significantly competitive in investments made.

“Our message to the administration is, let’s be realistic about this…If you take renewables and storage off the table, we’re going to force electricity prices to the moon,” said John Ketchum, NextEra Energy CEO, in a recent interview.

A growing concern resonates with the state of the electrical grid and future infrastructure. Within the next 15 years, the production and supply of electricity are expected to be taxed due to a 50 percent increase in demand. Green energy companies concentrate on this staggering statistic and offer it for consideration as wind, solar, and battery storage are projected to provide 93 percent of the overall grid solution.

While wind and solar fail to offer a 24-hour energy supply, battery storage meets the shortfalls. Record levels are expected in 2025 because of the 18.2 GW of utility-scale battery storage projected in grid additions. This would surpass the 10.3 GW increase enjoyed in 2024. As a result, Ketchum foresees wind, solar, and battery storage projects making up a substantial portion of the domestic energy solution.

While inflation has steered food and other prices upward, new power plant construction has followed the same path. Wind and solar development have endured rising costs as well, but not at the same rate. Technology has further developed, which has directly provided increased efficiency in renewable development. Some politicians see the potential in this growth and welcome energy supply diversification as a means of catalyzing the country’s economy.

American Clean Power conducted an independent study and indicates the IRA could provide a huge return on the investment made by taxpayers and initiate economic growth by $1.9 trillion over the next decade. Additionally clean energy jobs could offer financial security with an increase of more than 6.5 million by the year 2032.

With the improvements currently in place and those projected for the future, the renewable sector still remains under scrutiny, much like fossil fuels have for the past four years. President Trump and his team continue to monitor the situation with skepticism.

“Wind has been singled out because it’s had a singularly poor record of driving up prices and getting increasing citizen outrage, whether you’re a farm or you’re in a coastal community,” said U.S Energy Secretary Chris Wright. “Everywhere wind and solar penetration have increased significantly, prices went up.”

Wright’s statement has been met with opposition and claims of inaccuracy, and the renewable sector continues to justify its existence. Arguments continue and point to a one-sided rule of support in favor of fossil fuels, but the oil and gas industry traveled the same path under the Biden administration. It was forced to be calculated by carving its place in the overall energy solution. Now that the landscape has changed, renewable energy must justify its existence in response to the “Drill Baby Drill” mantra. In the spirit of compromise, if both sides could step back and see the overall picture, both room and need exist for all forms of energy production in meeting the growing demands of the future.

Author Profile

Nick Vaccaro

Freelance Writer and Photographer

Nick Vaccaro is a freelance writer and photographer. In addition to providing technical writing services, he is an HSE consultant in the oil and gas industry with twelve years of experience. Vaccaro also contributes to SHALE Oil and Gas Business Magazine, American Oil and Gas Investor, Oil and Gas Investor, Energies Magazine and Louisiana Sportsman Magazine. He has a BA in photojournalism from Loyola University and resides in the New Orleans area. Vaccaro can be reached at 985-966-0957 or nav@vaccarogroupllc.com.