ROUND UP: From Utility Bills to Gas Prices, Everything is More Expensive Thanks To Trump and Republicans in Congress

Trump and congressional Republicans have gutted clean energy projects that would have lowered energy costs and protected Americans from global oil shocks

The average national price of gas is $4.01, higher than its ever been this late in the summer, and the average monthly electricity bill spiked to an all-time high of $217

Washington, DC – This summer has been hot and expensive thanks to Trump and congressional Republicans’ cost-raising agenda. Americans have spent $82.7 billion more at the pump as Trump’s on-again, off-again war of choice in Iran — which Republicans in Congress rubber stamped — squeezes global oil supply. On top of that, he and congressional Republicans are taking a sledgehammer to affordable, American-made clean energy, squeezing supply as demand skyrockets. Last week, Trump spent even more taxpayer money on his second war of choice — his war on wind — paying an offshore wind project $1.2 billion to cancel their plans for wind farms that would have powered more than 5 million homes. 

Ohio

• Enbridge proposed a $163 million rate hike to replace aging pipelines and cover higher operating costs, which was estimated to increase the average residential gas bill by $7.60 to $9.50 per month.

Louisiana 

• RWE reached a $1.2 billion agreement with the Trump administration to stop construction of an offshore wind project off the coast of Louisiana. RWE’s Louisiana lease would have generated 1.2 GW of electricity, enough to power 435,400 homes.

New York 

• In addition to the project in Louisiana, RWE also halted development of a wind farm off the coast of New York as part of the deal with the Trump administration. RWE’s New York lease would have generated 1.3 GW of electricity, enough to power at least 500,000 homes.

California 

• A wind farm off the coast of California was also canceled after Trump struck the $1.2 billion deal with RWE to suspend offshore wind development. RWE’s California lease would have generated up to 1.6 GW of electricity, enough to power 630,000 homes. 

New Jersey

• Jersey Central Power & Light filed a rate proposal with the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities to increase rates by $253 million, which was projected to increase the average residential electric bill by $14.23 per month.

Minnesota 

• Heliene, a solar panel facility in Mountain Iron, MN laid off 93 employees, citing “unforeseen business circumstances.” 

Delaware

• The Delaware Public Service Commission approved an interim $34 million rate increase for Delmarva customers, which was estimated to add approximately 67 cents to the average customer’s monthly electric bill.

Maryland

• The Maryland Public Service Commission authorized $38.1 million in increased annual revenue for Washington Gas Light Company, which was estimated to result in an average monthly increase of $4.01 in residential gas bills.