Over 20 years ago, I began to study the intersection of national security and energy as a young Army Captain deployed in Baghdad as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom.  I dedicated my post-military career to understanding and addressing this issue, and I am often astounded that Washington continues to make the same short-sighted policy decisions that weaken our own security.  

Historically, United States energy security challenges came from the dependence on foreign oil imports, geopolitical instability in major fuel‑producing regions, vulnerability of centralized power generation during storms, heat waves, or cyberattacks, and the commodity price shocks that impact households and businesses. Today, the current administration is putting these challenges to the test and the American people are paying the price. 

As of March 2026, U.S. energy and foreign policy are being tested by a core assumption: that record domestic oil and gas production insulates the American economy from geopolitical conflict. With U.S. and Israeli forces currently engaged in direct strikes against Iran, the administration is operating with a level of aggression that would have been unthinkable a decade ago. The working assumption? That being a top producer of crude and natural gas grants the U.S. geopolitical leverage that shields the domestic economy from the “crazy spikes” that once were a surefire outcome of global conflict.

However, the U.S. is facing its own economic challenges with surging energy demand and reduced supply due to federal policy. Energy markets are on edge as Iran has closed off the Strait of Hormuz—one of the world’s most critical oil and gas routes. When global conflict disrupts supply, oil prices spike and Americans are likely to see this impact their electricity bills. But there is a solution. Local distributed power, like solar energy, allows us to shore up our energy security because the source is not controlled by foreign governments or global conflicts. Solar energy can be built and generated right here in the U.S., and by supporting more local generation we can secure our grid. Here’s how: 

Over the last decade, the push for electrification has led clean energy sources like solar and energy storage to play a vital role in reducing our demand for fossil fuels and increasing our energy security.  

Distributed generation solar generates electrons domestically, close to load, reducing exposure to global fuel markets — even as supply chains for equipment continue to globalize — and helps to reduce U.S. reliance on imported fuels and energy. Sunlight isn’t subject to geopolitics, wars, or foreign supply chains. The sun does not need a Navy escort like the tankers do today in the Strait of Hormuz, and every megawatt that is added to the grid means less exposure to global oil and gas price volatility. Can you imagine the additional premium for each barrel of oil would cost if you expected the industry to reimburse the costs of a military escort?   

As international relationships grow increasingly hostile, we especially need to prioritize energy independence for military bases, hospitals, water systems, and data centers. Much of this critical infrastructure is already turning to solar + storage to ensure uninterrupted power — something that directly supports national security and emergency preparedness — as well as to combat cybersecurity threats.  

Energy affordability is a top concern among citizens and policymakers as energy demand continues to grow. Solar energy can help lower electricity costs for households by allowing customers to receive bill credits from locally generated power. Distributed solar can also help reduce strain on the grid during periods of high demand. When paired with energy storage, solar resources can supply power during peak hours, which may reduce reliance on more expensive generation sources.  

According to Lazard’s Levelized Cost of Energy+ (LCOE+), community and C&I solar are the lowest-cost energy sources, with natural gas averaging 30% more per megawatt (MW) than solar. Additionally, solar energy has predictable, fixed costs once installed. This predictability helps to stabilize electricity prices for utilities, businesses, and everyday Americans because they do not rely on peak demand pricing. 

Gaining energy independence means building the right infrastructure in the U.S. to handle the capacity needs. The ICF reports U.S. electricity demand is expected to grow by 25% by 2030 and 78% by 2050. The more solar deployment grows, the more the U.S. becomes increasingly self‑reliant while producing a larger share of its own electricity and supporting a resilient grid. Solar and battery storage can be developed and deployed faster than any other utility-scale generation resource currently available. On average, new solar development ranges between 12-18 months, while sources like new nuclear power can take between 3-5 years to complete. 

The most provocative shift we are seeing in 2026 is not technological; it’s political. If 2025 was an effort to staunch the solar industry’s momentum, we are now witnessing the rise of “Make Solar Great Again“. Despite the administration’s policies and rhetoric, support for solar and energy storage is increasing, driven by reliability, affordability, and economic competitiveness. Based on a survey done by American Energy First, three-quarters of Trump supporters are favorable toward more solar. This support has led conservative firebrands like Katie Miller and high-profile political figures like Newt Gingrich to stop viewing solar as a “climate crusade” and start seeing it as a tool for energy and our economy. Even Energy Secretary Chris Wright, once a vocal critic, now admits solar has a vital “commercial role” in a reliable grid. We are moving beyond energy as a commodity to energy as “economic empowerment,” requiring an above-all energy strategy to power both AI growth and to make energy affordable. The real pivot is not just from oil to electrons—it is from centralized vulnerability to local energy resilience and security. 

The energy landscape of 2026 is a study of contradictions. On one hand, we use record oil production as a sword for military intervention; on the other, we are racing to build the infrastructure to protect our economic growth and homes from the inevitable energy affordability crisis. Now is the time to depoliticize renewable energy and stop the political hot potato from Democratic to Republican administrations. The U.S. needs a long-term strategy that incorporates an ‘all of the above’ approach, as well as short and long-term, local and centralized energy supply to fuel the economy. There is an undeniable opportunity to strengthen American energy dominance.

The war in Iran has resurfaced the decades-old debate surrounding energy security. For the solar industry, this is a moment not to be distracted by geopolitics, but to lean into the momentum we have gained over the last decade. This is our call to action to push forward in developing more grid-critical solar and energy storage assets that will help to address energy security, grid resiliency, and lower long-term energy costs for Americans. This is a win-win for our stakeholders, policymakers, and the nation as a whole. As we continue to navigate the increasing need for more electrons on the grid, CleanCapital remains dedicated to investing, developing, owning, and operating solar and energy storage projects across the U.S.