ROUND UP: Americans Face More Rate Hikes and Delayed Projects as the Costs of Trump’s War of Choice Continue to Pile Up 

Moody’s Analytics found that Americans are spending $450 more on gas and energy thanks to the war, and could spend $2,000 more if the war lasts a year  

Washington, DC – As Donald Trump’s war of choice in Iran makes everything from gasoline to airfare more expensive, his reckless energy policies continue to leave a trail of rate hikes and canceled or delayed clean energy projects. New data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA) shows that energy costs have spiked by 18% on average since Trump took office. 

Instead of focusing on lowering costs for families, Trump is doubling down on not caring about Americans’ financial situations, claiming that soaring energy costs are “peanuts.” Trump and Congressional Republicans have made the energy affordability crisis worse by canceling or delaying 382 clean energy projects across the country, taking enough energy to power 17 million homes off the grid.

Ohio 

• RWE canceled plans to develop the Hillclimber Solar and Storage project in Urbana Township, Ohio. The planned facility would have paired a 116.5 megawatt solar farm with 40 megawatts of battery energy storage, enough energy to power over 18,000 homes. The facility was expected to support 300 construction jobs and 3 full-time operational jobs, while generating $30 million in property taxes over the project’s lifetime, including $21 million for the local school district.
• Oak Run Solar was delayed because their permit was overturned by the Ohio Supreme Court. If approved, Savion, the project’s developer, expected the solar farm to generate 800 megawatts of electricity, enough to power 170,000 households, and to include two 150 megawatt batteries. The project was expected to support 3,033 construction jobs, as well as 63 full-time roles once operational, and deliver $250 million in tax revenue across its operational life.

Pennsylvania

• About 80% of all Pennsylvania utility customers will see higher rates starting June 1, 2026, as electric distribution utilities implement double-digit rate hikes.

Texas

• The Dallas City Council approved Atmos’ proposed gas rate increase, which will increase monthly residential gas bills by about $10.

Michigan 

• Navitas Systems, a battery manufacturer, filed a WARN notice informing the state of Michigan that it plans to lay off 82 employees. The company will also close one or two of its facilities in Ann Arbor, Michigan. 

Indiana 

• General Motors indefinitely paused construction of its battery plant in New Carlisle, Indiana, a joint venture with Samsung. The manufacturing facility, a $3.5 billion investment, was expected to create 1,700 jobs once operational and support 1,000 construction jobs. St. Joseph County’s Executive Director of Economic Development, Bill Schalliol, attributed the pause to a natural breakpoint in construction, the end of EV tax credits, and overall economic uncertainty.

National

• The National Energy Assistance Directors Association is projecting that electricity bills will be 8.5% higher this summer compared to last summer, with some Southern states seeing even larger increases.

Maryland

• Pepco filed a request to raise distribution rates, adding about $10 per month to residential electric bills.

Vermont

• Hyde Park Electric requested a 14.92% rate increase, the utilities’ second significant rate hike in less than a year.