Not all conservatives support Trump's shift to prioritize fossil fuels over renewables
President Donald Trump is using federal subsidies and executive powers to boost coal, oil, gas and nuclear power, abandoning the Republican Party’s past support for free-market energy policies.
Zack Colman reports for POLITICO.
In short:
- Trump’s executive orders restrict wind and solar projects, revoke tax benefits for renewables, and funnel federal resources toward fossil fuel and nuclear energy production.
- Administration officials argue the moves will ensure enough power for artificial intelligence data centers and address grid reliability concerns amid retiring coal and gas plants.
- Critics, including some conservatives, say Republicans are now embracing the same government market interventions they once attacked under Biden.
Key quote:
“They’re picking winners and losers. No doubt of that.”
— Shuting Pomerleau, director of energy and environmental policy at American Action Forum, a center-right think tank
Why this matters:
Shifting federal policy toward fossil fuels could prolong reliance on carbon-heavy energy sources at a time when global markets and climate science point toward rapid decarbonization. Rolling back renewable incentives may slow deployment of wind, solar and battery storage — now the fastest-growing energy sources — potentially locking in older, dirtier infrastructure for decades. The changes also arrive as artificial intelligence and data centers drive electricity demand sharply upward, raising questions about how the United States will balance energy reliability, cost and environmental impact in the years ahead.
