By Abbas Nazil
Rising electricity prices and renewed political battles over clean energy are reshaping the climate debate in the United States, with activists warning that opposition to renewable power could have major economic and electoral consequences.
Veteran climate campaigner, Bill McKibben, says increasing power bills, combined with federal rollbacks of green energy support, may significantly affect voters ahead of the 2026 elections.
McKibben, who has relied on solar power at his Vermont home for more than two decades, argues that affordable renewable energy is becoming essential as climate change worsens and electricity costs climb.
He recently installed his fourth generation of solar panels, noting that despite freezing temperatures, the sun continues to provide reliable and low-cost electricity.
According to McKibben, the Trump administration’s resistance to solar and wind energy will ultimately hurt consumers as utility bills increase nationwide.
He predicted that electricity prices could become a defining political issue, much like food inflation influenced voter sentiment during the 2024 election cycle.
Since taking office in January 2025, the Trump administration has rolled back numerous environmental regulations and shifted federal energy policy toward fossil fuels.
Several offshore wind projects were temporarily halted, and federal tax incentives for clean energy installations expired at the end of 2025.
Although court rulings later allowed some wind projects to resume, uncertainty surrounding renewable investment has continued to affect the power sector.
During the same period, national electricity prices rose sharply.
According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the average cost of electricity increased from 15.94 cents per kilowatt-hour in January 2025 to nearly 18 cents by autumn.
This represents a rise of more than 12 percent in just ten months, exceeding increases seen over the previous two years combined.
Residents in states such as Maryland, New Jersey and Maine experienced price hikes at nearly three times the national average.
For the typical household using about 900 kilowatt-hours monthly, this translated into an additional 18 dollars on power bills.
Democratic lawmakers have blamed the rising costs on federal hostility toward renewable energy.
They argue that limiting access to low-cost solar and wind power has forced greater reliance on more expensive fossil fuels.
The White House has rejected that criticism, stating that ensuring reliable and affordable electricity remains a top presidential priority.
At the same time, a bipartisan group of governors has urged grid operators to increase power supply in the mid-Atlantic to prevent further price spikes.
Globally, renewable energy costs continue to fall.
The United Nations reports that solar and wind power are now cheaper than fossil fuels in most regions.
China currently leads in renewable technology manufacturing and electric vehicle production, raising concerns about U.S. competitiveness.
McKibben warned that nations dependent on costly fossil energy risk falling behind economically.
He also pointed to countries such as Australia, where widespread solar adoption has helped lower household electricity costs.
Climate advocates say expanding clean energy is critical not only to control prices but also to reduce carbon pollution, which continues to drive record global temperatures.
They argue that the path forward depends on faster renewable deployment, simpler permitting systems and long-term investment in sustainable power.
