Trump Ends Subsidies for Wind and Solar, Declares Push for 'Reliable' Energy
President Donald J. Trump signed a new Executive Order on Monday to eliminate federal support for wind and solar power, calling the technologies “unreliable” and “foreign-controlled.” The move advances the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and significantly alters the energy policy landscape, as the administration pivots toward what it calls “reliable, dispatchable” sources like natural gas, coal, and nuclear.
The Executive Order directs the Treasury Department to terminate long-standing production and investment tax credits for wind and solar facilities, while also implementing tighter foreign ownership restrictions in the clean energy sector. At the same time, the Department of the Interior has been instructed to revise regulations that currently provide favorable treatment to renewable projects on public lands.
The White House framed the policy as a step toward “energy dominance,” arguing that continued reliance on green energy subsidies threatens grid reliability, national security, and U.S. taxpayers. President Trump criticized the growth of wind and solar, saying they displace affordable energy and weaken America’s energy independence.
A Shift Against the Backdrop of the U.S. Electricity Mix
The new order comes at a time when renewable energy is playing an increasingly prominent—though still minority—role in the American grid. In 2024, fossil fuels supplied 58.1% of U.S. electricity, with natural gas alone generating 42.5%, driven by its flexibility and low cost. Coal, despite long-term decline, contributed 14.9%, especially in parts of the Midwest and Southeast.
Meanwhile, renewables made up 24.1% of electricity generation. Wind led at 10.3%, with vast installations in Texas and the central U.S., followed by solar at 6.9%, boosted by federal tax credits and falling installation costs. Hydropower provided 5.4%, while bioenergy and other renewables filled out the remainder.
Nuclear energy remained a stable foundation, producing 17.8% of the nation's power from over 90 commercial reactors. Though growth in the sector has been modest, the administration views nuclear as a key dispatchable low-carbon source aligned with its energy priorities.
Political Impact and Industry Fallout
Supporters of the administration’s move say it will level the playing field for fossil and nuclear energy, reduce taxpayer burden, and enhance national security by curbing reliance on Chinese-controlled solar supply chains. Critics warn the decision could undercut clean energy jobs, delay the U.S. energy transition, and isolate America from global climate and technology trends.
Trump’s Executive Order builds on his earlier National Energy Emergency declaration and the creation of the National Energy Dominance Council, a new body tasked with slashing red tape and prioritizing domestic energy development. Officials say the end of wind and solar subsidies is only the beginning of a broader campaign to reshape the American energy economy in favor of “reliable” sources.
With natural gas, coal, and nuclear currently making up more than three-quarters of U.S. electricity, the president is betting that leaning into legacy infrastructure—and away from what he calls the “Green New Scam”—will deliver economic growth, energy independence, and renewed American power on the world stage.
But the continued growth of renewables may now depend less on policy support and more on economic performance. In Texas, both solar and wind have surged in recent years—solar thanks to low installation costs and ample sun, and wind due to strong resource potential across the Plains and early transmission investments. Yet with federal incentives set to end, new projects in both sectors will face steeper financial hurdles. In a more hostile policy environment, clean energy’s future may hinge on whether it can compete on cost alone without subsidies.