The Left’s Climate Dreams Hit Energy Reality

The politically-driven effort to force a transition from traditional power to wind, solar and battery has produced an energy crisis in blue America. Progressive-led states are beset by increasing electricity rates and declining reliability. Although their leaders uniformly blame President Trump, the costs have become so high that some on the left are finally scaling back these destructive policies. But it’s no guarantee sobriety will win the day.

New leftwing awareness of energy realities is apparent coast to coast. Former New Jersey Rep. Mikie Sherrill won the state’s governorship this month in part by

pledging to deal with high electricity costs. As a member of Congress Ms. Sherrill reliably voted for the energy-transition agenda, although on the campaign trail she blamed Trump policies for her state’s problems. Out West, California Gov. Gavin Newsom is moderating some of his positions in anticipation of a 2028 presidential run from a state with the nation’s highest electricity rates. Mr. Newsom recently signed legislation returning billions to the state’s beleaguered rate-payers. As he slowed some of the “climate” regulations that he previously helped accelerate, Mr. Newsom deflected responsibility to subsidy reductions in President Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” that have yet to take effect.