ROUND UP: Republicans Are Coming Home to Canceled Jobs and Rate Hikes as Gas Prices Cross $4 Per Gallon Thanks to Trump’s War
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Customers in 9 states faced rate hikes as high as $24 as Trump spends a billion taxpayer dollars to take energy options off the grid
The national average price of gasoline has surged to $4 per gallon thanks to Trump’s war of choice in Iran
Washington, DC — As Republican members of Congress head home for recess, they’re going to have to explain why they rubber-stamped Trump’s disastrous policies, which are leaving a trail of rate hikes and pink slips. Trump promised to bring back American manufacturing, slash energy costs in half, and keep Americans out of foreign wars, but he’s failed on all fronts. Instead, he dragged the country into a war that is spiking gas prices and spent a billion taxpayer dollars to stop offshore wind projects that would have powered millions of homes.
Now, Republicans are heading back to their districts with their tails between their legs, desperately trying to convince Americans that they’ve got the situation under control. But here’s the truth: They voted to gut homegrown clean energy projects that would have lowered utility bills, created jobs, and protected Americans from global energy shocks.
New York
- TotalEnergies accepted a $1 billion buyout from the Trump administration to cancel development of the Attentive Energy wind farm off the coast of Long Island, New York. Attentive Energy was expected to support more than 2,600 unique jobs. The farm was expected to generate 3 GW of energy, enough to power 1.4 million homes.
- The New York Power Authority approved a 3% electricity rate hike for customers in Plattsburgh, which was projected to raise average monthly bills by $1 to $2.
North Carolina
- As part of Trump’s $1 billion buyout for TotalEnergies, the company canceled development of the Carolina Long Bay wind project, which was located off the coast of Bald Head Island, North Carolina. Carolina Long Bay was expected to generate over 1 gigawatt of electricity, enough to power 300,000 homes.
- The Benson Board of Commissioners approved an electricity rate increase that was projected to increase average monthly bills by $16 in April 2026 and an additional $24 in April 2027.
Tennessee
- BlueOval SK announced plans to lay off 150 workers in Stanton, Tennessee as part of the dissolution of BlueOval SK, a joint venture between Ford and SK On, due to slowing U.S. EV demand.
Alaska
- The Ketchikan City Council approved an electricity rate increase that will increase rates by 8% per year for the next five years.
California
- Palo Alto is considering a 9% increase in gas utility rates for 2027, followed by a 7% increase in 2028, and 6% increases annually through 2031. The 9% increase would raise monthly bills by between $5 and $11. The city was also considering a 6% electricity rate increase for 2027, with additional 8% increases for two years after that.
- The Pasadena City Council approved a 7% electricity rate increase effective April 2026, with additional 7% increases to follow in October 2026 and March 2027. Some users could see their average bill increase by $14.46.
Georgia
- The Coastal Electric Cooperative approved electricity rate increases projected to raise the average customer’s monthly bill by $13.37.
Illinois
- MidAmerican Energy is requesting a rate hike that would increase average monthly electricity bills by $9.11 in 2027 and another $9.10 in 2028. For gas customers, average monthly bills would increase by $6.21 in 2027. Once fully implemented, gas and electricity customers would see average monthly bills increase by $24.42.
Michigan
- The Michigan Public Service Commission approved Consumers Energy electricity rate increase, which was expected to increase average monthly bills by 6.1%, or $6.46, once effective on May 1, 2026.
- Consumers Energy plans to request another electricity rate increase in June 2026.
Virginia
- The Manassas City Council is considering a 10% increase in electricity rates that, if approved, would go into effect in July 2027.
Washington
- Seattle City Light reached a settlement to continue using hydroelectric dams, which could result in a 0.5% rate hike per year from 2027 to 2032.