Democratic legislators have wrested the majority of both the House and Senate from the Republicans’ grasp following a historic midterm election this week. The clean energy industry is clamoring for a sea change in federal support for renewables after the Trump administration razed incentives and funding since taking office in 2025.
Credit: Ramaz Bluashvili/Pexels
While each candidate’s stance on clean energy isn’t apparent — nor is the effect this midterm election will have on domestic renewable energy markets — Democrats and left-leaning legislators have historically supported renewables more than their counterparts across the political aisle.
Wood Mackenzie is predicting that permitting reform will be a high priority for this new class of federal legislators, because of the rising costs of fuel and electricity from oil supply pressures brought on by the United States’ war with Iran and data center proliferation. However, the firm is also predicting that President Donald Trump could exercise his executive power to hamper proposed federal renewable energy subsidies.
“While we see the likelihood for permitting reform, how policy is legislated and implemented remains a risk to the U.S. economy,” said David Brown, director, global integrated research for Wood Mackenzie. “Entrenched partisanship could fuel policy stagnation and regulatory confusion.”
Representatives from the renewable energy industry and environmental organizations provided statements following the midterm results. Heres’ what they had to say.
Energy affordability was a key issue in this election, reflecting the real pressures facing American households and businesses. The solar and storage industry looks forward to working with newly elected federal and state leaders to bring more affordable, reliable power online and deliver the energy savings Americans are demanding.
– Tim Pawlenty, CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association
Families and businesses need affordable, reliable power, and strengthening America’s solar manufacturing base in a bipartisan manner will help deliver lower electricity bills. Over the past several years, American manufacturers have invested billions of dollars in new factories, expanded domestic production and created good-paying jobs in communities all across the country. With electricity demand rising, solar remains one of the fastest and most affordable ways to bring new power onto the grid, and the next Congress has an opportunity to ensure that power is American-made.
That starts with reinstating the domestic content incentives, so factories Congress helped bring online have a strong domestic market for American-made solar. It also means robust enforcement of our trade laws to ensure a level playing field for American solar manufacturers and continued investment in next-generation technologies so we can compete with, and leapfrog, China. We look forward to working with the new Congress to advance these shared priorities, keep electricity affordable for American families and strengthen our energy security and industrial workforce.
– Yogin Kothari, chief Strategy officer of the SEMA Coalition
Today, the clean power industry directly employs more than 400,000 Americans, and the U.S. has nearly 388 GW of clean power online, enough to power more than 83 million homes — but we’ll need a lot more than that to meet skyrocketing demand. Modernizing our outdated permitting process is key to unlocking over $800 billion in new infrastructure and 350-plus GW of new clean energy, keeping prices in check and the lights on at home for families and businesses across the country.
This Congress’ work isn’t done.
– Jason Grumet, CEO of the American Clean Power Association
Since their inception, competitive power markets have delivered billions in consumer savings while spurring innovation. They are the best way to make sure power generation investments are disciplined and efficient, with companies, not ratepayers, bearing the risk. EPSA looks forward to working with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle on policies that keep the grid reliable, protect customers and bring down costs in the long run.
– Todd Snitchler, president and CEO of the Electric Power Supply Association
The message from voters is clear: Americans want greater economic security, relief from rising costs and an energy system that works for them. This election put a bright spotlight on how this country’s outdated energy system and dependence on fossil fuels leave families and businesses exposed to unaffordable price shocks … Some of the biggest opportunities for progress may come at the state and city level. New governors, state legislatures and mayors have the power to move quickly on solutions that address the needs of their constituents: strengthening local economies, creating jobs and lowering bills. From ensuring data centers provide real benefits to communities to expanding clean energy, modernizing the grid, enabling affordable and accessible housing, and improving public transit, state and local leaders can walk-the-talk that climate action delivers real benefits for people.
– David Widawsky, director of World Resources Institute United States
Regardless of election outcomes, access to affordable, reliable energy and energy infrastructure remains essential to nearly every aspect of our daily lives, from powering our homes and businesses to keeping the cost of everyday goods and services within reach. As these leaders prepare to take office, we encourage them to make energy access, affordability, and reliability a priority.
We are ready to work with policymakers on both sides of the aisle to advance policies that support the development of critical energy infrastructure to create jobs, strengthen our nation’s energy security and ensure families and businesses have access to the energy they need.
– David Holt, president of the Consumer Energy Alliance
We just witnessed the collective power voters showed to beat back the Trump regime and fight for their country. Trump and his GOP cronies tried to drive our economy into the ground, but the American people stood up and made it clear that they reject Trump’s disastrous agenda.
We are committed to working with the incoming Congress to hold the administration accountable for the harm they have done to working people and pass legislation to build a clean economy that works for us all — not just billionaires. Creating opportunity for workers and communities while addressing environmental challenges is not just good policy, it’s also good politics.
– Jason Walsh, executive director of the BlueGreen Alliance
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