Trump’s policies to double power sector carbon emissions by 2035

President Donald Trump's policies have had a devastating impact on the US power sector, according to a new analysis by the non-profit Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). The report, titled "An Affordability Crisis of Trump's Making," reveals that Trump's policies will result in a doubling of power sector carbon emissions by 2035, costing US consumers up to US$30 billion annually in higher electricity bills.

The study found that these policies will eliminate up to 540 gigawatts of new wind, solar, and energy storage capacity over the next decade, while also causing US$700 billion in lost clean energy investments. Trump's administration has actively supported the fossil fuel industry, extending the operations of coal plants, backing new coal projects, and delaying wind development permits.

The report examined the cumulative impact of Trump's policies, such as the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act in July 2025, which eliminated tax credits for clean energy, and the global tariff war that has raised the cost of electricity generation technologies. The analysis compares the impact of Trump's policies to the expected outcome if no new administration policies were implemented, finding that power sector carbon dioxide emissions could be twice as high by 2035, with an additional 69,000 early deaths and 85,000 extra emergency room visits and hospital admissions due to increased air pollution.