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War With Iran Is Turning the Energy Affordability Crisis Into a Calamity by James Baratta
Donald Trump’s approach to the affordability crisis, like his Iran posture, is heavy on bluster and light on substance. Escalating military confrontation with Iran while touting energy affordability at home highlights an inherent policy contradiction, as heightened geopolitical risk tends to inject volatility into global oil and gas markets.
Trump shamelessly plugged his half-baked proposal for data centers to “produce their own electricity” and foot the bill for the AI boom during his State of the Union address last week. As Politico reported, “the pact is expected to encourage tech companies to pay for additional sources to power their data centers, fund grid upgrades, and commit to minimum electricity purchases to prevent sudden spikes to consumer prices.” Big Tech hyperscalers like Amazon Web Services and Microsoft have lauded the so-called “Ratepayer Protection Pledge,” with more companies signing on to the agreement at the White House on Wednesday.
More from James Baratta: EPA’s Endangerment Finding Repeal Stands on Shaky Foundations
On February 27, Trump belabored his policy of American energy dominance in Corpus Christi, Texas. He also seemed to indicate that hyperscalers would be required to sign the pledge. “I made it mandatory where they have to build their own electric power plant so they’re no longer taking out of the community,” Trump said.
Less than 24 hours later, he gave U.S. Central Command the green light to commence Operation Epic Fury. The early stages of the ensuing shock-and-awe campaign, carried out by American and Israeli forces in Iran, saw a double-tap strike on an all-girls school that killed 165 people, many of them children between the ages of 7 and 12.
Apart from the clear human cost of Trump’s senseless war with Iran, the joint military operation has sent global oil and gas prices—not to mention profits—soaring, and there is little indication those prices will come down anytime soon. The conflict shines a light on the flaws of American energy dominance.
Trump shamelessly plugged his half-baked proposal for data centers to “produce their own electricity” and foot the bill for the AI boom during his State of the Union address last week. As Politico reported, “the pact is expected to encourage tech companies to pay for additional sources to power their data centers, fund grid upgrades, and commit to minimum electricity purchases to prevent sudden spikes to consumer prices.” Big Tech hyperscalers like Amazon Web Services and Microsoft have lauded the so-called “Ratepayer Protection Pledge,” with more companies signing on to the agreement at the White House on Wednesday.
More from James Baratta: EPA’s Endangerment Finding Repeal Stands on Shaky Foundations
On February 27, Trump belabored his policy of American energy dominance in Corpus Christi, Texas. He also seemed to indicate that hyperscalers would be required to sign the pledge. “I made it mandatory where they have to build their own electric power plant so they’re no longer taking out of the community,” Trump said.
Less than 24 hours later, he gave U.S. Central Command the green light to commence Operation Epic Fury. The early stages of the ensuing shock-and-awe campaign, carried out by American and Israeli forces in Iran, saw a double-tap strike on an all-girls school that killed 165 people, many of them children between the ages of 7 and 12.
Apart from the clear human cost of Trump’s senseless war with Iran, the joint military operation has sent global oil and gas prices—not to mention profits—soaring, and there is little indication those prices will come down anytime soon. The conflict shines a light on the flaws of American energy dominance.
https://prospect.org/2026/03/06/war-iran-energy-affordability-crisis-natural-gas/]
1 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
= new reply since forum marked as read
It's almost like the regime didn't think things through. 
He thought he could have a drive by war. The Iranians would instantly surrender and appoint 🍊 menace as supreme leader. His approval ratings would shoot up to 90+% and he'd be golden. 