Trump’s energy strategy backfires as oil falters and renewables stall

U.S. energy firms are retreating from drilling and halting clean power projects as President Trump’s policies trigger market instability and investor anxiety.

Evan Halper reports for The Washington Post.

In short:

Oil and gas companies are slashing investments and shutting down rigs, citing Trump’s tariffs, trade policies, and pressure on OPEC+ as major disruptors to profitability.
Renewable energy projects, including major offshore wind farms, are being delayed or canceled following Trump’s orders to freeze clean power approvals and halt billions in federal grants.
Despite slashing environmental rules and promising cheap gas, Trump’s policies have left the U.S. just as dependent on foreign oil and facing growing costs for energy infrastructure.

Key quote:

“This is not ‘energy dominance.’”

— Anonymous energy executive, quoted in a Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas survey

Why this matters:

The turbulence in the U.S. energy sector comes at a time when global demand, climate threats, and technological competition are colliding. Fossil fuel firms are reeling under policy whiplash and rising costs, while renewables—once on a strong growth trajectory—are now shackled by regulatory uncertainty and a hostile political climate. Trump’s moves to roll back clean energy development and impose steep tariffs are not only stalling domestic projects, but also risking long-term energy security and economic competitiveness. Paused solar and wind projects, particularly offshore, leave millions of homes without cleaner, more stable power sources as cities grow hungrier for electricity. Meanwhile, the steel and component price hikes driven by trade tensions are affecting oilfield operators. If these trends continue, the U.S. could lose ground in both energy independence and the global race for next-generation technologies — especially AI infrastructure that depends on vast, reliable power.

For more: House Republicans push sweeping fossil fuel expansion in budget bill

www.washingtonpost.com

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California mining company turns to solar heat but can’t quit coal just yet

In California’s Mojave Desert, a mining plant is turning to solar thermal energy to replace one of its coal-fired generators, but a second unit may run for years due to the intense heat and 24-hour power it needs.

Ivan Penn reports for The New York Times.

In short:

Searles Valley Minerals, a mining company in Trona, Calif., is replacing one of its two coal plants with a solar thermal system but says the other may need to stay online for the foreseeable future due to operational demands.
The company will use a concentrating solar power system from start-up GlassPoint, which uses mirrors to generate high heat, a solution that works well in hot, sunny areas but requires a large land footprint and remains rare in the U.S.
Despite California’s push to phase out coal and President Trump’s efforts to revive it, economic and geographic constraints continue to complicate full industrial transitions away from fossil fuels.

Key quote:

“We just think coal is going to be a problem. We’re going to have a hard time sourcing it. We need to be ready to pivot.”

— Dennis Cruise, president of Searles Valley Minerals

Why this matters:

Industrial heat — the kind used in mining, chemical production, and heavy manufacturing — accounts for about half of global energy use, yet it’s rarely mentioned in public climate debates. Unlike home heating or car travel, generating this level of heat without fossil fuels is still tough. Most renewable energy technologies don’t deliver the extreme, continuous heat these facilities need. That leaves industries like the one in Trona stuck with coal, even as it becomes harder to source and politically unpopular. As the U.S. attempts to decarbonize, industrial energy needs present one of the biggest hurdles.

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