Will the coming oil crisis force Trump to recognise the importance of alternative clean energy?

 

Will the coming oil crisis force Trump to recognise the importance of alternative clean energy?

Based on current developments in March 2026, President Trump has not shifted his stance to recognize alternative clean energy as a primary solution to the oil crisis. Instead, his administration has doubled down on an "energy dominance" strategy centered on fossil fuels and nuclear power.

 

Current Response to the Oil Crisis (March 2026)

Following a sharp spike in oil prices—driven by conflict in the Middle East and the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz—the Trump administration has taken the following actions:

Strategic Reserve Release: Authorized the release of 172 million barrels of oil from the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve as part of a coordinated 400-million-barrel global effort with the IEA.

Fossil Fuel Expansion: Continues to promote "Drill Baby Drill" policies, reaching record U.S. crude production of over 13.6 million barrels per day in 2025.

Military Action: Used military intervention in regions like Venezuela specifically to secure and increase oil production infrastructure.

 

Stance on Alternative and Clean Energy

Rather than turning toward renewables to mitigate the crisis, the administration has actively de-emphasized them:

Policy Rollbacks: The administration has moved to dismantle parts of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), cutting subsidies and tax credits for wind and solar projects.

Project Cancellations: Federal agencies have stalled environmental reviews and even moved to block clean energy projects that were near completion.

Nuclear "Renaissance": The administration identifies nuclear energy as its preferred "clean" alternative, awarding billions in 2025 and 2026 for small modular reactors and domestic uranium enrichment to ensure energy security.

While the administration remains focused on fossil fuels, external factors continue to push the transition:

 

Economic Reality: Analysts suggest that as energy costs rise and the cost-advantages of renewables become "undeniable," the administration may eventually face a "reality check" or be forced into a policy recalibration.

Global Momentum: Despite U.S. policy shifts, global investment in clean energy reached record highs in 2025, and solar generation in the U.S. is still projected to grow by nearly 50% over the next two years due to state-level support and private sector momentum.

Price Projections: Some reports indicate that current pro-fossil fuel policies could actually drive long-term gasoline prices up by 34% by 2050 compared to a net-zero trajectory.