Bailing Out Big Oil: The Wrong Investment at the Worst Time

Yesterday, we highlighted a quiet revolution in clean energy: 24-hour solar power is no longer a dream — it’s a cost-effective, real-world solution. With solar-plus-storage prices falling sharply in recent years, and wind energy continuing to expand, we’re entering a new phase of the energy transition — one where fossil fuels simply can’t compete on cost, performance, or resilience.

So why, in the face of this progress, is the federal government choosing to bail out oil and gas?

In a sweeping $4 trillion package dubbed the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” the Trump administration has slashed support for clean energy while handing billions in subsidies to fossil fuel companies. The bill includes:

• Increased subsidies for carbon capture — but only when it’s used to extract more oil from depleted wells.

• Lower royalties for oil and gas drilling on public lands.

• Delays to methane pollution penalties, effectively letting the industry off the hook for the emissions it promised to clean up.

• Mandated lease sales across 200 million acres, including protected lands and offshore areas.

• Expanded tax breaks for fossil fuel development — many of which date back to the 1910s.

All while cutting support for wind, solar, and energy efficiency — and increasing household energy bills by an estimated $280 a year.

Let’s be clear: this is not an energy strategy. It’s a political payoff.

The fossil fuel industry knows it’s on borrowed time. Global solar module prices have dropped by 50% since 2020, and battery storage prices fell more than 20% in the past year alone. Meanwhile, utilities across the U.S. are shutting down coal plants in favor of renewables — not because of mandates, but because clean power is simply cheaper. Natural gas is next.

At the same time, global markets are turning away from U.S. liquefied natural gas. Europe is accelerating its transition to renewables, and even major Asian economies are investing heavily in clean energy storage and domestic generation. As demand for U.S. gas exports shrinks, the only way for oil and gas companies to stay afloat will be more subsidies, more bailouts, and more lobbying.

This bill is the first installment in what will become a long, expensive series of taxpayer-funded lifelines for a dying industry — lifelines paid for by working Americans, many of whom are already struggling with rising energy costs.

We should be investing in the future — not propping up the past. Every dollar we spend subsidizing oil extraction is a dollar we don’t invest in grid resilience, clean manufacturing, or lowering long-term energy costs. And every delay in building out wind, solar, and storage puts us further behind in the global race for clean energy leadership.

The numbers don’t lie: clean energy is now the smart investment. The “Big Beautiful Bill” does the opposite — funneling public money into an outdated industry in decline. It’s not just a bad policy. It’s a bad bet on the past.

What You Can Do

If you believe our energy future should be clean, affordable, and built for the long haul — now is the time to act.

Contact your representatives in Congress and tell them this bill must be repealed or rewritten. Make it clear that if they continue to subsidize the past while sabotaging the future, they will not earn your vote. We need better leaders — ones who invest in the future instead of protecting obsolete industries for political gain.

Find your representative: house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative

Contact your senators: senate.gov/senators/senators-contact

Speak up. Share the facts. And vote like the future depends on it — because it does.

24-Hour Solar Is No Longer a Dream — It’s a Cost-Effective Reality

A new report from the energy think tank Ember, written by Kostantsa Rangelova and Dave Jones, finds that solar electricity can now be delivered around the clock in sunny cities—reliably and at a lower cost than new coal, nuclear, and in some cases even natural gas.

The technology isn’t new. What’s changed is the economics.

In Las Vegas, for example, combining 5 kilowatts of solar panels with a 17 kilowatt-hour battery is now enough to provide a stable 1 kilowatt of electricity throughout the day and night. This setup can deliver 97 percent of the electricity needed for full 24/7 coverage over the course of a year.

The cost of this near-continuous solar power is now just $104 per megawatt-hour. That’s 22 percent cheaper than the same setup would have cost only a year ago—and cheaper than the cost of new coal plants ($118/MWh) or new nuclear facilities ($182/MWh).

The Key Driver: Plunging Battery Costs

The report credits much of the improvement to falling battery prices. In 2024, average global battery costs dropped by 40 percent—from $275 to $165 per kilowatt-hour. In some regions, they’ve fallen even lower. A pair of 2025 tenders in Saudi Arabia reported battery costs as low as $72 per kilowatt-hour.

Because batteries now account for a smaller share of total project costs, this price shift is transforming the economics of solar-plus-storage systems. In 2023, batteries made up nearly half of the total cost to deliver 24-hour solar. In 2024, that share dropped to just over one-third.

Real-World Applications

Solar-plus-storage systems are no longer experimental. They’re being deployed today at utility scale and by large commercial energy users. Examples include:

• The first gigawatt-scale 24-hour solar project in the United Arab Emirates, announced in early 2025.

• Data centers in Arizona and Dubai now running on solar power with battery backup.

• Industrial microgrids in West Virginia and Saudi Arabia supplying around-the-clock solar power to heavy manufacturing and tourism developments.

In the U.S., 75 percent of new solar projects awaiting grid connection in 2023 were paired with batteries.

Why This Matters

The availability of cost-effective, near-constant solar electricity is a turning point. It reduces reliance on fossil fuels. It makes it possible to bring power to remote regions without waiting for expensive grid infrastructure. And it gives industrial users—especially those with high reliability needs—an alternative to gas-fired generation.

The report also highlights how battery-backed solar can reduce the need for costly grid expansions. In sunny regions, up to five times more solar capacity can be installed using existing grid connections, simply by storing excess generation for use at night.

The Challenge Now Is Policy, Not Technology

The report is clear: the technology is ready, and the economics make sense. What’s missing is widespread adoption.

Planners, regulators, and investors still think of solar as a daytime-only resource. That view is now outdated. Batteries are changing what solar can do, and fast.

As Ember’s lead author Kostantsa Rangelova puts it, “This is a turning point in the clean energy transition… Now it’s time for policy and investment to catch up.”

Compete or Collapse: The EV Shift America Can’t Ignore

Americans pride themselves on choice. The freedom to choose what we drive, what we build, and how we power our lives is woven into our culture. But today, those choices are at risk — not because someone is taking them away, but because the rest of the world is moving forward, and we’re standing still.

Globally, electric vehicles are taking over. In May 2025, one in four new vehicles sold worldwide was a plug-in. China has crossed the halfway mark, with more than half of its new car sales being electric or hybrid. Europe is racing to phase out gasoline and diesel. Meanwhile, American automakers and policymakers are still debating whether to invest in the future or cling to the past.

This is more than a story about cars. If we fail to compete, we won’t just lose export markets — we’ll lose our ability to make the vehicles Americans want to drive. Factories will close, jobs will vanish, and cheaper foreign EVs will fill our streets. In the name of preserving choice, we could end up with no real choices at all.

It’s time to face the facts: the world is electrifying. If we want to keep building cars in America, if we want to protect American jobs, and if we want Americans to have real freedom to choose, we must compete — now.

Global Surge in Electrification

While debate drags on in Washington and Detroit, the rest of the world isn’t waiting. Global plugin vehicle sales reached 25% of new car purchases in May 2025 — a remarkable milestone that would have seemed impossible just a few years ago. Fully electric vehicles alone now make up 16% of global sales, and that share is climbing fast.

China is leading the way, with more than 50% of its new car sales already plug-in or fully electric. Europe is close behind, steadily progressing toward its goal of phasing out gasoline and diesel cars by 2035. In markets from Southeast Asia to South America, EV adoption is accelerating thanks to lower prices, expanding charging networks, and growing consumer confidence.

And it isn’t just environmental policy pushing this shift. Automakers overseas are fiercely competing to give customers more choices, with hundreds of affordable EV models hitting showroom floors. In the U.S., however, many buyers still face a frustrating lack of selection, higher prices, and patchy charging infrastructure — making the gap between American and global markets even wider.

If we keep ignoring these trends, we risk more than lost exports. We risk having our own consumer options shrink as automakers shift production to meet global demand for EVs, leaving fewer resources to build gas-powered vehicles just for us. The global market is evolving — and it’s leaving the United States behind.

The U.S. is Falling Behind

Even as global EV adoption surges, the United States lags far behind. American EV sales have grown, but they still make up only a fraction of the new car market compared to Europe and China. Our infrastructure hasn’t kept up — public charging is still sparse in many areas, and high upfront prices make EVs feel out of reach for working families.

This leaves American drivers with fewer real choices. While other countries’ buyers enjoy a flood of new, affordable EV models, U.S. car shoppers often see only a limited selection of expensive options. And as global demand shifts, automakers are prioritizing production for the markets that are moving fastest. The risk is clear: if the United States doesn’t catch up, our local manufacturing will focus less on making vehicles for our own market and more on fulfilling overseas orders — or worse, will simply wither.

This is about more than consumer choice today. If American automakers can’t compete globally on EVs, they will lose scale, profits, and innovation capacity, making it harder to build any type of vehicle here at home. Our industry — and the millions of jobs connected to it — could collapse under the weight of global competition, leaving Americans dependent on imported vehicles, likely from China.

The world’s transition is picking up speed. If the U.S. fails to join it, we may soon find ourselves not just behind — but left out entirely.

What’s at Stake for American Jobs and Industry

The American auto industry is more than steel, wheels, and engines — it is millions of jobs, thousands of communities, and a cornerstone of our national identity. But those jobs, and the industries that support them, are facing a direct threat from a global EV transition that the U.S. is ignoring at its peril.

If other countries continue to electrify while we hesitate, American automakers will see shrinking export markets for traditional gasoline-powered vehicles. That will put assembly lines, supplier contracts, and dealership networks at risk. Communities that rely on auto plants could face devastating job losses. And the longer we delay building our own competitive EV sector, the harder it will be to catch up when demand for gas-powered cars finally collapses.

The risk goes even deeper. If our manufacturers lose their global edge, we could become dependent on foreign-built vehicles — most likely from China, which is investing heavily in both EV technology and production capacity. This is not just an economic vulnerability but a strategic one: ceding the future of transportation to geopolitical competitors threatens America’s ability to chart its own course.

By acting now, we can protect American workers, secure a thriving domestic auto industry, and keep the power to decide what we drive in our own hands. But if we don’t move soon, that power — and those jobs — will slip away.

The Oil Shock That’s Coming

For more than a century, America’s auto industry has been tightly bound to oil. From gasoline to diesel, fossil fuels have powered our vehicles, our supply chains, and entire communities. But as the world shifts to electric vehicles, that connection is under growing threat — and so is the stability of our energy-dependent industries.

Global oil demand is projected to decline sharply as more countries adopt EVs. That decline may seem gradual at first, but it will accelerate as more nations enforce phase-out targets for gasoline and diesel cars. When that happens, oil producers could see falling profits and tighter margins, leading to layoffs, bankruptcies, and economic ripple effects in communities that rely on fossil fuel jobs.

This coming oil shock matters to the auto industry because so much of our current manufacturing base — from parts suppliers to service shops — depends on the gasoline-powered ecosystem. As demand for oil shrinks, the economic foundation supporting that ecosystem will weaken. That threatens not just energy producers, but the millions of workers and small businesses connected to them.

If the United States fails to diversify — and fails to help its automakers make the shift to electric — we could face a dual crisis: collapsing demand for our oil exports, and a crumbling auto sector that cannot pivot in time. The longer we wait, the harder and more painful the transition will become.

Respecting Choice, Expanding Options

Some argue that America should not be forced into electric vehicles. They worry that mandates or bans will take away their freedom to choose what to drive. That concern deserves respect — after all, choice is one of America’s deepest values.

But here’s the uncomfortable truth: if we do nothing, our choices will actually shrink. As global demand moves toward electric vehicles, automakers will focus their production, innovation, and marketing dollars on those growing markets. That means fewer gasoline-powered models built for the U.S., fewer parts available, and rising costs for maintaining older vehicles.

Meanwhile, other countries are flooding their markets with dozens of affordable EV options, giving their citizens more freedom to choose among price points, features, and styles. Americans, on the other hand, still see limited selection, higher sticker prices, and patchy charging networks. In other words, the lack of investment here is what’s truly limiting our freedom of choice.

Supporting a strong EV industry does not mean forcing anyone to give up their car tomorrow. It means expanding choices for everyone, ensuring Americans can buy a reliable, affordable, American-made EV — or a cleaner hybrid — if they want to. It also means protecting the ability of American workers to build those vehicles, instead of surrendering our manufacturing future to foreign competition.

True freedom comes from having options. Right now, we’re on a path where those options could disappear — unless we act.

Policy Proposals to Keep America Competitive

If we want to protect American jobs, expand consumer choice, and keep our auto industry thriving, we need a focused, actionable strategy. Here are practical, commonsense steps that respect market freedom while giving the U.S. a fair chance to compete in the global EV transition:

Phase Out Fossil Fuel Subsidies and Redirect Funds to the EV Transition

The United States spends billions of dollars each year supporting fossil fuel companies through tax breaks, credits, and other incentives. By gradually reducing these subsidies, we can free up resources to invest in the vehicles of the future, strengthening our economy and preserving consumer choice.

Boost Domestic EV Production Incentives

Redirected funds can help automakers build affordable, desirable EVs in the United States, protecting union jobs and keeping our manufacturing base strong and resilient.

Modernize Charging Infrastructure Nationwide

A reliable, nationwide network of fast chargers is essential to making EVs practical for everyone, whether they live in cities or rural areas. This infrastructure investment will expand access and confidence for American drivers.

Protect Workers with a “Just Transition”

The transition to EVs should not leave fossil fuel or auto workers behind. Retraining programs, wage protections, and support for union jobs can help ensure workers have good-paying careers in battery and EV production.

Preserve Consumer Freedom with Balanced Policies

Avoiding blanket bans while using incentives, targets, and fair rules can accelerate EV adoption without taking away consumers’ freedom to choose the best vehicle for their lifestyle.

Strengthen Strategic Battery and Supply Chains

Investments in critical minerals, advanced batteries, and other high-tech components should happen on American soil. This will protect us from foreign dependence and secure our leadership in the next generation of automotive technology.

By phasing out fossil fuel subsidies and investing those resources in the industries of the future, we can protect American freedom of choice, safeguard well-paying jobs, and ensure that our auto industry remains globally competitive for decades to come.

Conclusion: The Future Is Coming, Ready or Not

The global auto industry is moving forward with or without us. As other countries race to electrify their transportation systems, they are expanding consumer options, strengthening their manufacturing bases, and preparing their economies for the future. Meanwhile, America risks being left behind, clinging to outdated policies and an industry structure that cannot survive the coming changes.

This isn’t just about what kind of car we drive. It’s about whether American workers will keep building those cars, whether our communities will thrive, and whether we will continue to have the freedom to choose from a wide range of affordable, innovative vehicles. If we fail to act, we will see our choices shrink, our factories close, and our streets filled with imports made elsewhere.

We still have time to lead. By shifting resources away from fossil fuel subsidies and investing in a robust, competitive EV industry, we can protect American jobs, expand choices for consumers, and secure our place in a rapidly changing world.

The world is moving. The question is simple: will America compete — or collapse?

The Big Beautiful Bill’s Energy Provisions — A Pricey Mistake for America

Introduction: The Missed Opportunity

The so-called “big beautiful bill” is being sold as a victory for American workers and families. But when you look closely at its energy provisions, it’s a giant step backward. Instead of helping us lower energy costs, strengthen our economy, and keep America competitive, this bill props up outdated fossil fuel industries while pulling the rug out from under affordable, reliable renewable energy.

That’s not just bad economics — it’s bad strategy. While the rest of the world is investing in cleaner, faster, and cheaper energy technologies, America risks getting left behind. Weakening support for electric vehicles, blocking renewables, and throwing billions at fossil fuel subsidies will leave American families paying higher bills for less reliable energy, while foreign competitors take the lead in the industries of the future.

At its core, this bill rewards campaign donors in the fossil fuel industry while sacrificing the American consumer. If we want affordable, secure, and competitive energy for our future, we cannot afford to miss this opportunity.

What the Bill Actually Does

For all the talk about putting America first, the bill’s energy provisions do exactly the opposite. Here’s what they include:

• Cuts or eliminates incentives for renewable energy — making it harder for Americans to install solar panels, build wind projects, or expand local clean power.

• Weakens or removes tax credits for electric vehicles, making them less affordable just as other countries are ramping up their EV adoption.

• Expands subsidies for fossil fuels, funneling taxpayer dollars to oil and gas companies that already enjoy record profits.

• Prioritizes outdated fossil fuel projects on federal lands, delaying or blocking renewable projects that could be built faster and cheaper.

Instead of supporting affordable, modern energy solutions that help families save on power bills and transportation, this bill doubles down on the same expensive, volatile fuels that have left Americans exposed to global price shocks.

Why Renewable Energy Is the Affordable, Stable Option

Renewable energy isn’t just about climate policy — it’s about protecting American wallets. Today, solar and wind power are the cheapest sources of new electricity in most parts of the country. Once built, they rely on free fuel — the sun and the wind — so there’s no risk of price spikes like we see with oil and gas.

Renewables are also faster to build than fossil fuel plants, meaning we can bring more energy online to meet demand without years of construction delays or costly permits. They have lower maintenance costs, fewer parts to break down, and no ongoing fuel expenses — savings that go straight to consumers.

Beyond lower energy bills, renewables keep dollars circulating in local communities. Whether it’s a solar installer in Nebraska or a wind technician in Texas, these are good-paying jobs that can’t be outsourced overseas. And by spreading out generation across the country, renewables also make our power grid more resilient, protecting homes and businesses from blackouts.

Renewable energy is affordable, reliable, and American — exactly the kind of energy policy we should be investing in.

How the Bill Hurts Our Auto Industry

This bill doesn’t just raise energy costs — it puts America’s auto industry at risk of falling behind. Around the world, countries like China, Germany, and South Korea are investing heavily in electric vehicles and battery manufacturing. They see EVs as the future of transportation and are working to dominate that market.

Meanwhile, this bill weakens U.S. electric vehicle tax credits, discouraging American consumers from buying EVs and leaving our carmakers without the strong home market they need to scale up production. Without domestic demand, American manufacturers will struggle to compete globally, and foreign companies will step in to fill the gap.

We risk losing the next generation of manufacturing jobs — good-paying, middle-class jobs — to competitors overseas. And by undercutting support for EV batteries and related technologies, we become even more dependent on foreign supply chains for critical components, instead of building them right here in America.

If we want to keep American auto manufacturing strong and protect our economic leadership, we need policies that encourage innovation, not ones that hold it back.

The Cost of Propping Up Fossil Fuels

It’s no secret that fossil fuels have been the backbone of our economy for generations. But propping them up with more subsidies and fewer regulations is no longer a sustainable strategy — or a smart one.

First, fossil fuel prices are highly volatile. Families have seen that time and again at the gas pump or on their utility bills. Tying our economy even tighter to fuels whose prices swing with global markets leaves American households vulnerable.

Second, handing out taxpayer subsidies to oil and gas companies that are already making record profits is a waste of resources. These dollars could be used to support affordable, reliable energy that keeps prices stable for consumers instead of rewarding corporate donors.

Third, fossil fuel infrastructure is expensive and slow to build. Power plants, pipelines, and refineries can take years to come online — time we don’t have when it comes to keeping energy affordable and competitive.

Finally, the environmental and cleanup costs of fossil fuels — from pollution to land damage — often fall on taxpayers and local communities. For example, there are more than 3.7 million abandoned oil and gas wells across the United States, with hundreds of thousands actively leaking methane and other toxic chemicals into our air and water. The EPA estimates these orphaned wells release millions of metric tons of methane every year — a potent pollutant that contributes to dangerous air quality and even explosion risks. Yet the same companies that profited from these wells often walk away without cleaning them up, leaving taxpayers on the hook.

Handing out new subsidies to this industry without demanding they fix their mess is like rewarding a tenant for trashing their apartment. Until they pay for the cleanup of these orphaned wells, they do not deserve another dime of taxpayer help. By clinging to yesterday’s fuels with government handouts, we’re locking ourselves into higher costs, more price spikes, and more risk — all while losing ground to competitors who are investing in cheaper, modern energy systems.

The Donor Payoff Behind the Bill

It’s impossible to ignore who really benefits from the bill’s energy provisions. During the last election, the fossil fuel industry poured nearly $100 million directly into Donald Trump’s campaign and spent hundreds of millions more to support candidates willing to protect their profits. In return, they’re getting billions of dollars’ worth of subsidies, regulatory rollbacks, and new public lands access through this bill.

This is not about sound policy — it’s about rewarding big donors. These giveaways allow fossil fuel executives to collect taxpayer-funded benefits while leaving everyday Americans with higher energy bills and fewer choices. Meanwhile, the same industry that profits from these handouts continues to walk away from cleaning up abandoned wells, polluting communities and sticking taxpayers with the bill.

This pattern isn’t isolated, either. Just look at how Trump carved out special tariff exemptions for oil and gas interests — another donor-friendly deal that proves the fossil fuel lobby is shaping policy for its own bottom line.

When politicians cater to campaign donors instead of the American people, working families pay the price. This bill is no exception.

What We Should Do Instead

If we truly want to keep America strong and competitive, we need an energy policy that puts consumers and workers first — not campaign donors. That means investing in renewable energy that delivers cheaper, more stable power and supports jobs right here at home.

We should also double down on electric vehicle manufacturing to make sure U.S. automakers remain leaders, not followers, in the global transportation industry. Encouraging domestic battery production and securing critical mineral supply chains can keep these jobs in American hands and protect us from relying on foreign competitors.

At the same time, we need to modernize the power grid so it can handle new, distributed energy sources and withstand natural disasters and cyberattacks. A smarter, more flexible grid will protect American families from blackouts and price spikes.

Above all, we should focus on true energy independence. That means using American-made renewable resources — sun, wind, and homegrown battery storage — instead of gambling on volatile fossil fuel markets or leaving ourselves vulnerable to geopolitical crises.

By making smart investments now, we can build an energy system that is affordable, reliable, and secure for generations to come.

Conclusion: Americans Will Pay the Price for a Donor-Driven Deal

This bill props up the past instead of building a stronger, more affordable energy system for the future. By undercutting renewables and weakening EV incentives, it guarantees higher prices, less reliable power, and lost American jobs — all while rewarding fossil fuel donors who spent millions to buy political influence.

American families will end up paying the bill, whether through higher energy costs, taxpayer-funded subsidies, or the price of cleaning up abandoned wells and polluted land. Meanwhile, our global competitors will surge ahead, capturing the industries of the future while we cling to the fuels of the past.

We deserve better. Our leaders should put the interests of American workers, families, and manufacturers ahead of campaign donors. That means investing in affordable, reliable, homegrown energy that gives us true independence and a fighting chance in the global economy. Anything less is selling out the American future.