Renewables Surge as Trump Administration’s Anti-Clean Energy Push Falters

In March 2026, U.S. electricity generation from renewable sources—solar, wind and batteries—exceeded that from natural gas for the first full month, according to the Ember think-tank. The milestone follows a record 2025 for renewable output. Industry data show that 93 % of electricity-capacity additions slated for 2026 are green, leaving only 7 % for fossil-fuel projects.

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Since taking office, President Donald Trump has called clean-energy technologies a “scam,” “stupid” and “garbage,” and has pursued rollbacks of environmental regulations. His administration barred solar and wind projects on federal lands, rescinded tax incentives that had spurred rural clean-energy investment, and directed taxpayer funds to halt agreed wind developments. Energy Secretary Chris Wright testified that “coal is critically important to the world.”

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• March 2026: Renewable generation > gas generation nationally (Ember).

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• 2025: Highest annual renewable electricity production on record.

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• 2026 pipeline: 93 % of new capacity from solar, wind, batteries; 7 % from fossil fuels.

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• Global context: Ember reported renewables overtook coal as the world’s largest electricity source in 2025.

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The White House defended its stance by emphasizing fossil-fuel reliability, with President Trump asserting that “fossil fuel is the thing that works.” In February, the administration’s chief pollster noted that more than two-thirds of Republican voters support solar power, suggesting a divergence between policy and voter preferences. A federal court in Massachusetts recently blocked several anti-renewable actions, including the ban on federal-land solar and wind projects.

The Guardian

Industry leaders argue that market forces have rendered anti-renewable policies ineffective. Peter Davidson, CEO of Aligned Climate Capital, said the clean-energy sector is thriving across every metric. Jon Power of CleanCapital noted a shift in optimism, attributing it to the administration’s overreach. Leah Qusba of GoodPower highlighted polling that shows only 40 % of Republican voters approve of Trump’s handling of rising energy costs, framing it as a “huge red flag” for the administration.

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• “There is no truth to the death of the clean energy industry in the United States – in fact, just the opposite,” — Peter Davidson, CEO, Aligned Climate Capital

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• “I’m not nearly as pessimistic as I was last summer,” — Jon Power, co-founder, CleanCapital

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• “The fossil industry has built this ecosystem politically, they are playing in the Super Bowl and we’re still playing middle league football,” — Jon Power, former White House chief sustainability officer under Barack Obama

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• “I think the American people are so sick of importing this volatility into their lives,” — Leah Qusba, CEO, GoodPower

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• “Coal is critically important to the world.” — Chris Wright, U.S. Energy Secretary

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Wright’s claim that coal will dominate global electricity contrasts with Ember’s 2025 report showing renewables surpassing coal worldwide. Wright’s office declined to comment on the discrepancy, leaving the administration’s position on the future energy mix unclear.

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The Massachusetts court ruling may pave the way for resumed offshore wind projects and further renewable capacity additions. Polling indicating growing Republican support for solar could pressure policymakers to reconsider anti-renewable measures. Industry observers expect continued acceleration of solar-panel exports, electric-vehicle sales and battery deployments as market momentum outpaces political resistance.

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