Energy Affordability Overtakes Climate Activism
July 11, 2025
Need to know
- Check out TEA’s new website for the latest in energy news and opinion — sorting Common Sense from the Nonsense.
- TEA takes: Pumping the brakes on alternative energy.
- Opinion: Did Louisiana become our first energy sanctuary state?
- Connecticut governor expresses support for pipelines.
- OPEC+ agrees to pump more oil in August.
- Imports made up 17% of the US energy supply in 2024, the lowest share in almost 40 years.
- Energy Secretary Wright: Future of US coal is ‘long and bright.’
- Canada’s gas market ‘about to turn the corner,’ say analysts.
- Trump directs the Treasury to limit wind and solar tax credits.
- Chesapeake Utilities to build a $10 million gas pipeline for an Ohio data center.
- Secretary Wight to break ground on first US rare earth mine in 70 years.
- IEA: global oil demand to rise faster than expected.
Common Sense
Doing an about-face on climate: Democrat politicians are retreating on climate policies, according to Politico.
Why it matters: “Affordability” has become their buzzword as they saw inflation woes drive votes to Republicans across the 2024 ballot. In a poll presented to California’s Assembly Democrats during a caucus meeting, climate change — somewhat surprisingly — sat in last place.
Credit American voters for speaking up last November. Some politicians were actually listening.
And as TEA followers know, Affordable, Reliable, and Clean is the ARC Energy Security standard that our nation needs today and tomorrow.
Consider:
- The state of California, for example, is backing off its most extreme environmental mandates as political reality becomes clear.
- Americans want affordable, reliable energy, not scarcity disguised as virtue.
- Dems, meanwhile, want working-class voters back, many of whom have joined President Trump’s Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement. More than 50 million of them supported Trump last fall, even more than he had in 2016.
Gabriella Hoffman, an energy policy analyst, wrote on X: “Obsessing over carbon and forcing people to abandon first-world living standards for part-time energy is not a winning policy.” Spot on, Ms. Hoffman.
The Politico piece makes this clear, noting that “in the past two weeks alone, California Democrats have retrenched on environmental reviews for construction projects, a cap on oil industry profits and clean fuel mandates.”
Across the country, a poll shows that 80% of Connecticut voters want to increase natural gas supplies, working in conjunction with renewables, to offset rising energy costs and meet increasing power demands.
Climate activists are growing disillusioned with California, with some questioning its status as a climate leader. Where are the protests and civil disobedience that the Left Coast is known for?
They’re not in retreat just yet, but the push for renewables, cuts in fossil fuel use, and stricter emissions rules has clearly lost momentum.
Bottom line: It’s a good thing that politicians are waking up to the reality that Americans care more about keeping energy affordable and reliable than pursuing extreme net-zero goals that increase costs and reduce consumer choice.
Nonsense
Just the facts, please: There are so many facts that are wrong or slanted in this Forbes analysis that it’s simply mind-boggling.
Why it matters: The premise that natural gas will harm the US economy is absurd. Allegations that it won’t solve the rising electricity demand are also baseless.
Equally wrong is the assertion that new gas turbine orders face a wait time of five to seven years before they can be delivered to utilities. We beg to differ.
If these analysts are so sure that it takes that long to build a new gas plant, how is it possible that this Texas company is building one in just two years?
Innovation and a reliable product, perhaps.
Consider a few points of contention:
Studies show that liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports don’t drive up domestic natural gas prices. In fact, in 2024, prices hit a 30-year low even as LNG exports reached record highs.
Continued exploration, spurred by President Trump’s energy policies, will boost supply and keep costs down in the long term.
The Heartland Institute’s study clearly showed natural gas scoring well above other energy sources, including renewables.
Coal, natural gas, and nuclear power are considered baseload sources because they can provide reliable, on-demand power whenever needed. That’s why data centers are choosing behind-the-meter natural gas plants in many states, most recently in Ohio and North Carolina.
Reliability drives affordability: Heartland Institute President James Taylor said that constantly ramping up and down backup power to offset wind and solar isn’t just inconvenient, but also costly. Fluctuating power demands waste energy and money.
Wind and solar build-outs often require new power lines, taking months, if not years, to complete. Of course, there is frequent local opposition to such projects, also causing delays.
Wind and solar are “intermittent,” producing power only when nature cooperates. As a result, they operate at just 25–35% of their potential, far below what reliable baseload sources provide.
If you want to talk about costs, natural gas is the most affordable in terms of dollars per megawatt-hour.
A study by the Mackinac Center and Northwood University found that natural gas provides the best source of energy in both traditional and “carbon-constrained” applications.
Finally, from an environmental standpoint, natural gas is produced on a small wellhead footprint and delivered efficiently to power plants through underground pipelines, safely and efficiently. Methane emissions are down 42% since 2015, even as oil and natural gas production have increased by 51%.
Bottom line: Natural gas is America’s most Affordable, Reliable, and Clean energy source. For the past two decades, it has met growing energy demand, saved families money, and lowered emissions. It will continue to do so for decades to come.
A Look Ahead
Hearing On Energy Development: On Monday, July 14, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies will have a hearing on the Fiscal Year 2026 Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Bill.
Hearing On China and Critical Minerals: On Tuesday, July 15, the House Foreign Affairs East Asia and Pacific Subcommittee will have a hearing on Breaking China’s Chokehold on Critical Mineral Supply Chains.
Hearing On Interior Department Nomination: On Wednesday, July 16, the Senate Indian Affairs Committee will have a hearing on the nomination of William Kirkland, of Georgia, to be an Assistant Secretary of the Interior.
Quote of the week
“The United States cannot afford to continue down the unstable and dangerous path of energy subtraction previous leaders pursued, forcing the closure of baseload power sources like coal and natural gas.”
— Energy Secretary Chris Wright said in a statement.