Copyright Norfolk Virginian-Pilot
President Donald Trump stormed back into the White House on a campaign focused on costs. Part of his argument was a pledge to “cut your energy prices in half within 12 months.” As we close in on that mark, energy prices are rising at more than twice the overall rate of inflation. Average electricity rates in Virginia were up 11.3% year over year as of July. Since taking office, Trump has used every lever of power available to disadvantage cleaner, cheaper energy and prop up and promote the accelerated burning of fossil fuels. The first eight months of this administration have seen an all-out assault on clean energy. Legislatively, it includes the repeal of tax credits that both spurred clean energy development and deployment and provided relief to consumers and businesses. On the regulatory front, it has involved extraordinary actions by the departments of the Interior, Energy, Treasury and Transportation, and the Environmental Protection Agency to hinder clean energy and promote fossil fuel use. Iowans draw more than 60% of their power from wind energy and have among the lowest utility bills in the country. Yet on a visit to a national lab there, Secretary of Energy Chris Wright tried to argue that wind energy is unreliable and expensive. The assembled dignitaries and elected officials, all Republicans, weren’t having it, and the secretary begrudgingly acknowledged that Iowa has benefitted from its long-term investment in wind energy. Still, federal actions continue to impede the offshore wind industry in Virginia. In parallel, the Trump administration is actively looking to extend the life of dirty, uncompetitive coal power plants, recently announcing $625 million in subsidies for these plants. This handout is a triple whammy: Taxpayers will pay for the subsidy itself, ratepayers will see higher electric bills — Energy Innovation notes that 99% of the U.S. coal fleet is more expensive to keep running than new cheaper, cleaner renewables — and we will all bear the pollution and climate impacts. Blocking clean energy takes affordable options off the table at a time when Virginians are facing substantial electric bills. Clean energy offers some of the most affordable — and fastest ways — to provide new electric power. Last year, 93% of newly generated energy capacity that came online last year came from wind, solar and storage. According to a new analysis by Politico of U.S. Energy Information Administration data, the majority of states leaning heavily into wind and solar have lower electricity prices, and roughly half of these states are showing power bill increases below the national average. But the Trump administration and its allies in state governments are actively restricting the supply of affordable, clean power when demand is skyrocketing from data centers, industry and homes. They’re freezing the permitting for wind projects, cutting clean energy tax credits, slowing down wind and solar on federal lands, and more — all while propping up dirty, outdated, costly fossil fuel plants. The Center for American Progress’ analysis found that in 41 states and the District of Columbia, utilities had requested rate increases, which, if approved, will drive utility bills higher still. Utilities in Virginia have already requested rate increases five times for the 2025-2026 period. In a recent survey for the Searchlight Institute, voters were asked to name the three monthly expenses that put the most strain on their household budget. Some 63% of respondents named utility bills — higher than any other category including groceries, housing and health care. This cost chaos is not what voters signed up for. Virginians need to raise their voices and make clear they don’t want to pay higher prices for dirtier energy. It’s on our leaders to be responsive to the needs of their constituents and, yes, lead. David Kieve of Washington, D.C., is president of EDF Action, the advocacy partner of the Environmental Defense Fund.
