Dear Editor: On the campaign trail in August 2024, Donald Trump vowed to slash energy prices by half within 23 months of taking office. About 11 months since the inauguration, this goal has not been achieved; nor will it be any time soon. A recent report by Climate Power states that electricity bills have actually increased by 13% in 2025.
Demand for electricity is also increasing substantially due to several factors, including the ravening thirst of Big Tech for AI and data centers, increasing electrification of transportation and the ever-increasing need for air conditioning in a warming world.
One might think that the administration would be seeking ways to increase electricity supply in order to lower prices and meet the increased demand. On the contrary, according to the same report, Trump’s assault on clean energy projects has resulted in a loss of nearly 25 megawatts of planned electricity generation, not to mention the loss of over 150,000 jobs associated with those projects.
If the president was truly dedicated to lowering energy costs, he should put rational and data-driven planning ahead of any personal prejudice against clean energy.
Richard Jarman
Madison
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