MIT report projects resilience in US clean energy transition

A report from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Center for Energy and Environmental Research suggests that the transition to clean electricity in the United States may persist despite shifts in federal policy. The report, titled “Glass Half-Full: Building a Decarbonized U. S. Power Sector,” utilizes a mathematical model to project electricity generation over the next decade.

The model indicates that approximately three-quarters of the clean electricity capacity originally projected under Biden-era policies, such as the Inflation Reduction Act, could survive the phase-out of wind and solar subsidies under the Trump administration. While the report notes that onshore wind power will face challenges and various decarbonization initiatives will be delayed, author Lily Bermel encourages continued pursuit of deep decarbonization.

However, the report also highlights significant obstacles. Data from the BlueGreen Alliance indicates that recent energy initiatives have already led to the delay or cancellation of 223 wind and solar projects, representing an estimated $82 billion in capital investment.