Trump assaulted renewable energy. Now America is more vulnerable to Iran fossil fuel shocks

Oil and gas prices are affected by global factors. Countries that invested in clean tech solutions are better positioned as the Middle East crisis escalates.

A plume of smoke rises after an explosion on March 2, 2026 in Tehran, Iran. [Photo: Majid Saeedi/Getty Images]

Throughout his presidency, Donald Trump has hindered the growth of renewable energy and instead propped up fossil fuels like oil and coal. 

That has made the country more vulnerable to the effects of geopolitical conflicts like the U.S. military action in Iran—and risks putting the U.S. even further behind, experts say, in terms of renewable and battery developments.

Trump acknowledged this week that America’s attacks on Iran are likely to cause oil prices to spike. We’re already seeing that effect: the average price for a gallon of gas in the U.S. jumped 11 cents overnight into Wednesday, and experts say oil prices could reach $100 a barrel.

That effect isn’t only felt in the United States. European natural gas prices surged “by as much as 50%,” the New York Times reported, after the conflict prompted Qatar to halt production of liquefied natural gas. UK gas prices hit their highest level in three years on Tuesday. 

A ‘higher than average’ cost due to Trump

Some of these places, however, may be better prepared to weather this instability thanks to their reliance on renewable power and batteries.

Oil and gas are global commodities, meaning their prices are affected by global factors. But just how much the Iran war impacts a country’s energy market depends on how much that country is dependent on fossil fuels.

Unfortunately, Trump has made the U.S. increasingly dependent on these dirty, unstable sources of energy. His administration has slashed incentives for wind, solar, and battery development. It also blocked or canceled such projects, while providing tax incentives and fast-tracked permits for oil and gas drilling.

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