U.S. President Donald Trump's fossil fuel-oriented policy agenda is set to wipe out $700 billion of planned clean energy investment over the coming decade and double power sector carbon emissions by 2035, according to a new analysis released on August 25 by non-profit group Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC).

The report assesses cumulative impacts of policies enacted under the Trump administration. Trump campaigned on cutting household utility bills by half within 18 months of taking office; yet Energy Information Administration (EIA) data shows residential power bills had risen by 16% as of May 2026.

Key policy measures include the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, passed July 2025, which sharply rolled back clean energy tax credits, alongside global trade tariffs that disrupted supply chains and lifted costs for power generation hardware. The administration has also moved to prop up fossil fuel output: utilities have been pressed to keep ageing fossil fuel plants operating past scheduled retirement dates, new coal-fired capacity is being restarted or built, while federal permitting for wind projects has slowed.

The modelling estimates $700 billion in foregone clean energy investment out to 2035, alongside 390-540 GW of lost new wind, solar and energy storage capacity, a volume roughly comparable to India's total existing installed power capacity of around 520 GW.

By 2035, U.S. consumers could face additional electricity-related costs of up to $30 billion per year, with household power bills rising as much as 25% in some regions.

"From day one of this term, the Trump administration has waged war on clean energy, destroying new investments, while owners of old, polluting coal plants get handouts and free passes to pollute," said Amanda Levin, NRDC director of policy analysis. "As a result, utility bills are on the rise, projects are canceled, jobs are lost and more pollution is endangering the health of our families and the climate."

The study runs energy system modelling to contrast outcomes under current Trump-era policies against a pre-administration baseline. Variables include planned power plant emission standard repeals, import tariffs, the termination of wind-solar tax credits, plus permitting delays and cancellations. Both modelling scenarios account for fast-rising electricity demand driven by data center expansion.

Modelling outputs show power sector CO2 emissions could exceed 1 billion tonnes in 2035, versus a baseline of just above 500 million tonnes.