In a typical bold presidential election in 2024, Donald Trump hits American oil in the South and Midwest by pledging a dramatic rollback of renewable energy and the burgeoning green transition. He sought to bring together his climate skeptic base in the state.
That transition helped him be a signature policy of his predecessor and nemesis, President Biden. Inflation reduction methods Unlocking subsidies and tax billions of dollars for renewable energy companies and alternative fuel providers.
Since he came to power, Trump has managed to make his promise. He withdraws from the Paris Agreement.Also). He blocked approval for wind power generation, I'm calling it “rubbish”. He has Has suspended hundreds of millions of dollars Green Energy Project's alternative Big Oil maintains campaign pledge where “drills, babes, drills” are expected
“The problem for Trump is that those who wanted to impress the bashing browha of climate change are Republicans who benefit most from Biden's green energy boost. America's number one clean energy state. In 2023, it first produced more electricity from the sun than from coal.
The story is the same at other Trump-voting bases. North Dakota, Oklahoma, New Mexico And Idaho has all seen significant growth in renewables. It has been translated into jobs for white and blue-collar Americans: Clean Energy Employment Growth is 6% in Texas, 7.7% in Idaho, 6.9% in New Mexico, overall number of employment growth and Miles are higher in comparison. Only 2%.
Trump's clean energy rollbacks are threatening these jobs. There are major renewable projects Already cancelled His election led to Hundreds of projects Paused.
The push towards renewable energy is not a government directed, but a result of market forces.
Over the past five years, US coal consumption has declined Almost 30%Texas is attracted Over $60 billion Green investment over the past decade will promote creation Almost 250,000 Clean energy work.
Big Oil, meanwhile, is reluctant to follow Trump's drilling requests. Due to high oil prices, they convert into more cash, and Exxonmobil, Chevron, and BP don't want to risk their profits by spending more to increase production.
Trump's solution is the problem. He proposed him There may be some quiet words With Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, he turned on the tap and shipped more oil to the US for the US.
But even in the oil-rich Middle East, attitudes are changing. Trump will get the potential for renewable energy in America, but the Crown Prince is stepping up Saudi Arabia's investment to generate half of its energy from renewable energy by 2030.
Similarly, the Abu Dhabi National Petroleum Company Committed to Net-Zero By 2045, we spent billions of dollars investing in renewable energy and natural gas, including last year. German chemical company Covestro acquires $16 billion. The company has also launched a $80 billion fund. Invest in renewable energy companiesIncludes the US
In other words, Trump's war with renewables does not simply undermine the economic outlook of his own Republican support base. There is a way for Gulf oil producers to push their full power, putting the competitiveness of the entire US economy at risk.
This is not just a bad climate. It's bad for the business, bad for the job, bad for the people who voted for him.
Paulina Velasco is a political strategist involved in the San Diego County Regional Decarbonization Framework and serves as part of the county's Regional Equity Working Group. Inequality related to water and air pollution.
