A windmill stands surrounded by wind turbines near Panhandle, Texas, Tuesday, April 15, 2025. (AP/Eric Gay)
Recently, as my plane was landing in Germany, I stared in awe at the majestic white windmills dotting the landscape for miles. Yes, I have seen an increasing number of wind turbines in the U.S., but I had never seen this scale of visible investment in renewable energy before.
My first reaction was a surge of hope. Our species, after wreaking so much damage, can change our ways and chart a more sustainable path forward for all life on this big blue sphere we call home.
Then I thought, "Wow, we are really behind."
Since re-entering the White House, Donald Trump has rolled back vital investments in green energy and the environment. He has a particular disdain for offshore windmills.
Instead, he has ramped back up an unwavering commitment to the fossil fuel industry. Trump is making good on his campaign promise to "drill, baby, drill." Environmental groups and other concerned Americans are scrambling to save our national parks from increased encroachment by industry and the massive staff cuts.
This government rollback in green energy and environmental investments is bad for us all.
Along with many of the president's other reckless economic decisions, it is putting the U.S. even further behind Europe, China and many other countries that are seriously investing in a clean energy future.
This dis-investment will leave us dangerously dependent on depleting fossil fuels. It will undo major investments already underway to build our country's clean energy infrastructure and eliminate potential jobs in green industries.
This rollback threatens not only our economy and environment, but also the very future of life on this planet. This loss of leadership in sustainability — and how we are viewed by our neighbors — is making us more of an environmental pariah in the world.
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The clean energy tax credits passed under the historic Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) represented the world's largest investment in countering the climate crisis by any nation. Our advocates and partners across the country worked hard to ensure its 2022 passage. A year later, I was honored to join many colleagues on the White House lawn to celebrate the first anniversary of the landmark legislation.
Thanks to the IRA, we were closer than ever before to halving U.S. greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and reaching our goal of net-zero emissions by 2050. Despite the bipartisan support for clean energy tax credits and the historic numbers of jobs created in these new industries, the IRA is now threatened by repeal in the ongoing budget reconciliation process.
In addition to helping us meet our nation's climate goals, the IRA has spurred the creation of over 400,000 jobs in clean energy. Recent research shows that repealing these clean energy credits will cost more than 700,000 jobs, increase electricity bills by 10% on average, and end at least $300 billion in investments nationwide.
Working families, our country and the world cannot afford for the U.S. to turn its back on clean energy now. This would be a grave mistake.
The Trump administration is already upending other funding for clean energy initiatives previously approved by Congress. Members of Congress must reassert the branch's power of the purse to ensure appropriated IRA funds are invested as the law intended.
The fossil fuel industry, whose pollution is threatening our environment, wants Congress and the public to be afraid to push back on Donald Trump's reckless agenda. Yet, there is broad public support for continuing these bipartisan investments in the environment and green energy.
We must not let fear keep us from speaking out and muzzle our dreams for a greener, cleaner future. As a Quaker, I am hopeful that, with persistence, we can win this struggle and leave a sustainable planet for our children and their children.
