Gerald Winegrad: Trump's senseless attacks on clean energy | COMMENTARY

The commentary by Gerald Winegrad argues that Donald Trump’s policies have targeted clean energy such as wind and solar, along with efficiency and electric vehicles, raising costs and reducing electricity supply. It claims that in April 2024, at a dinner in Mar-a-Lago with 20 fossil fuel executives, Trump sought $1 billion for his campaign and promised a “deal” tied to fewer environmental regulations and avoided taxes if he won. The piece says his administration accelerated oil, gas and coal projects, including efforts linked to keeping or restarting coal capacity and expanding coal-related infrastructure, while weakening regulation for warming gases and some toxins like mercury. It also cites methane releases being allowed at higher levels. The article further argues that data centers pushed by AI demand have driven steep electricity price increases, pointing to a near 76% jump in the PJM grid in Q1 2026 versus 2025 and a $13 billion auction-related cost increase. It contrasts these points with claims about wind and solar supplying more than half of new U.S. generating capacity since 2000.