Tillis Right, Whatley Wrong: Trump’s War on Clean Energy Shutters Another North Carolina Company, Canceling 500 Jobs
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Washington, D.C. – Today, Business North Carolina reported that Blue Ridge Power, a solar construction company and subsidiary of Pine Gate Renewables, would close, resulting in the layoff of 517 North Carolinians. This is the second time in less than three weeks that a North Carolina clean energy company has made such an announcement. Earlier this month, North Carolina Commerce Secretary Lee Lilley blamed Donald Trump’s energy policies for the cancellation of Natron Energy’s plans to build a $1.4 billion battery factory that would have created 1,000 jobs.
The announcement comes on the heels of a new Climate Power report and tracker that details the rising costs, job losses, power shortages, and abandoned investments caused by Republicans’ nonsensical war on clean energy. As Trump escalates his vendetta against renewables, China has been more than happy to step in to fill the gap, leading the way in the race to power our global economy.
“Donald Trump and Republicans have shown time and time again that they are willing to sell out the American people, hand our energy future to China, and jack up prices for working people, all in the name of tax breaks for billionaires and Big Oil CEOs,” said Climate Power Communications Director Alex Glass. “Every time a factory closes, that means fewer good paying jobs and less reliable energy for American families, and we are going to make sure that voters know who is to blame.”
Trump’s reckless energy policies are cancelling clean energy projects across the country:
- More than 80,500 energy jobs have been lost or delayed between Trump’s election and September 8, 2025. Companies have canceled, delayed, or laid off staff at 142 energy projects in 37 states, representing over $42.80 billion in lost investment. 57 percent of listed projects have been canceled altogether since Trump’s election.
- Trump planned to revoke federal permitting for a Maryland wind farm, which would have powered 718,000 homes and supported more than 1,300 jobs.