Trump Shifts Energy Policy Toward Fossil Fuels and Nuclear

President Donald Trump spent 2025 shifting U.S. energy policy to prioritize polluting fuels, coal, and natural gas while actively blocking wind and solar energy. The administration revoked wind energy permits, halted construction on offshore wind farms, and canceled federal grants for hundreds of projects. In July, a tax and spending cut bill rolled back clean energy tax breaks, while the Environmental Protection Agency terminated the Solar for All program.

Despite these restrictions, solar and battery storage accounted for 85% of new power added to the grid in the first nine months of the administration, with combined clean energy capacity reaching 92% through November 2025. This growth was driven by strong economics and skyrocketing electricity demand from artificial intelligence and data centers. The administration did show support for nuclear and geothermal energy, notably through a $1 billion Department of Energy loan to restart the Three Mile Island plant in Pennsylvania.

Critics, including ReImagine Appalachia and the American Society of Civil Engineers, warn that this policy shift jeopardizes infrastructure modernization and economic growth, particularly in West Virginia. While the administration pledged $625 million to boost the coal industry, opponents argue the move creates affordability crises and job losses in coal-dependent communities. Democratic Senator Sheldon Whitehouse maintained that federal regulations cannot offset the natural economic advantages of clean energy.