Press Release: Embracing Clean Energy Solutions Amid Rising Costs
A recent report by the Center for Energy & Environmental Analysis, titled “Drill More, Pay More – America’s New Energy Paradigm,” highlights the troubling paradox of the U.S. energy landscape: increasing domestic energy prices alongside surging energy production. In the first quarter of 2025, wholesale natural gas prices rose by 93% year-over-year, despite reaching record production levels.
Conversely, recent analyses, including the “Achieving 100% Clean Energy in Wisconsin Report,” provide a roadmap for Wisconsin to attain 100% carbon-free electricity by 2050, ensuring reliability and affordability. These studies affirm that the growing energy demand can be sufficiently met through enhanced renewable energy sources, improved efficiency, and flexible load management strategies.
As energy demands surge due to electrification and data requirements, investment in rapid, cost-effective solutions becomes paramount. Methane gas no longer offers the price stability it once did. In contrast, renewable energy projects like solar and wind can be operational within two years, whereas gas plants often take double that time to launch. Rising construction costs and supply chain disruptions further hinder fossil fuel projects.
Utilities argue for methane gas plants to meet increasing energy demands, particularly from new data centers. However, companies like Microsoft and Meta demonstrate that clean energy can effectively power these facilities. Through smart load management and innovative technologies such as hydrogen fuel cells, they illustrate that fossil fuels can be bypassed in favor of sustainable sources.
Amid mounting evidence and financial hurdles against new natural gas plants, policymakers must lean into clean energy solutions. Ignoring this shift not only undermines environmental progress but also neglects sound business principles. It’s time to recognize clean energy as a practical answer to the escalating electricity demands of both industries and everyday life.
— Alex Beld, Communications Director at RENEW Wisconsin, advocates for clean energy solutions throughout the state.
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