Astonishing Comeback Of Fossil Fuels

By Douglas McIntyre  •  September 19, 2025
Tom Fisk

America has been well on its way to replacing fossil fuels with renewables to create electricity. A surge in the need for electricity, data centers, and Trump’s regulatory destruction of wind energy mean a comeback in fossil fuels. This means, in turn, that the U.S. will not reach its greenhouse gas targets over the next decade or longer.

As of 2023, renewables were the fastest-growing source of electricity generation. By market share, wind was 10% and solar was 4%. Coal use had dropped sharply over the course of the previous decade to 16% and natural gas at 43%.

There is absolutely no way that the development of renewables and the installation of nuclear energy can offset what could be a 50% increase in demand for electricity over the next decade. Most analysts see the only option as a rapid return to fossil fuels. Natural gas is even more attractive because its current prices are historically low. 

Trump’s war on wind will cripple the industry during his administration. If Republicans are elected for two more terms as president, the damage could go well into the next decade.

The Trump Energy Plan

Coal plants were being taken offline rapidly until the last two months. Trump signed an executive order that allows coal plants to remain in operation. He said he was eliminating “the government bias against coal.”

Oil companies have made it very clear that they will increase production as long as prices make it profitable. The head of Exxon has been campaigning around the world in an attempt to have nation after nation drop regulations against the use of crude

Fossil fuel growth is back and will be back for years.

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