Trump declared war on renewables – but Americans aren’t listening

illuminem summarises for you the essential news of the day, reviewed by our editorial team. Read the full piece on Euronews or enjoy below:

🗞️ Driving the news: President Donald Trump’s aggressive push to expand coal and curb renewables is facing strong resistance as U.S. solar power continues to grow
• Despite tax credit cuts and offshore wind project cancellations, solar overtook coal in May 2026, supplying 12.8% of U.S. electricity versus coal’s 12.2%, while rooftop installations surge across households

🔭 The context: Trump has targeted renewable incentives, scrapped the 30% residential solar tax credit, and directed the Defense Department to purchase more coal-generated electricity
• Concurrently, offshore wind projects were halted or repurposed through buybacks, with $2.6 billion spent to redirect investment to fossil fuel
• States like California and New York are pushing back through lawsuits and new policies like the SUNNY Act to broaden solar access

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Solar growth reduces carbon emissions and strengthens energy independence, mitigating reliance on coal and gas
• Expansion of rooftop solar, plug-in kits, and utility-scale projects directly lowers greenhouse gas output, helping slow climate change while keeping per-capita electricity emissions in check in a country with global-scale energy demand

⏭️ What’s next: Solar adoption is expected to rise further as financial incentives shift and public demand for clean energy persists
• States are poised to continue to pursue plug-in and rooftop solar expansion, potentially reshaping energy consumption patterns nationwide, even as federal policy favors fossil fuels

💬 One quote: “Even with the current administration removing solar energy tax incentives and trying to revive coal, more Americans are choosing to own their energy than ever before.” – Aaron Nichols, solar policy and research specialist

📈 One stat: Solar generated 45.5 TWh in May 2026, a 17% increase from May 2025, surpassing coal generation for the first time on record

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