Europe Finds Out the Hard Way That Its Green Energy ‘Obsession’ Had Disastrous Consequences

Conservative News DailyDecember 2, 2025
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The rapid transition by European countries from carbon-based energy to green energy has led to severe economic challenges. Even though Europe has considerably reduced carbon emissions-by 30% as 2005, outperforming the U.S.-this shift has caused soaring electricity prices. For example, Germany now has the highest domestic electricity prices among developed nations, while the U.K. faces the highest industrial rates. These high costs are driving industries away, with companies like Exxon Mobil closing plants and manufacturers significantly downsizing operations in Europe. Additionally, Ireland has halted new data centre developments due to limited electrical capacity.

Due to shortcomings in renewable energy output, such as weak wind conditions, Germany has even restarted some coal-fired power plants and increased fossil fuel electricity production. Critics, including political figures like Donald Trump, warn that Europe’s green energy policies threaten economic stability and energy security. The European Union’s economic growth is slower compared to the U.S., which has avoided a similar green energy push thanks to political opposition to plans like the Green New Deal. The article also notes parallels with California, which is experiencing high utility costs and unemployment amid aggressive green energy adoption. Meanwhile, U.S. policies promoting expanded energy production intend to lower prices and bolster economic growth.

European countries’ rapid push to switch over to green energy from carbon-based sources is wreaking havoc on their economies.

“Europe has succeeded in slashing carbon emissions more than any other region — by 30% from 2005 levels, compared with a 17% drop for the U.S. But along the way, the rush to renewables has helped drive up electricity prices in much of the continent,” The Wall Street Journal reported.

“Germany now has the highestmo domestic electricity prices in the developed world, while the U.K. has the highest industrial electricity rates, according to a basket of 28 major economies analyzed by the International Energy Agency. Italy isn’t far behind. Average electricity prices for heavy industries in the European Union remain roughly twice those in the U.S. and 50% above China,” the outlet added.

“We are hemorrhaging industry,” Dieter Helm, an economic policy professor at Oxford University who has advised U.K. governments on energy policy, said of the high energy prices.

The Wall Street Journal offered examples of companies choosing to shut down or greatly limit their operations in Europe, like Exxon Mobil announcing it was closing its chemical plant in Scotland.

Further, “Twenty years ago, the U.K. was the most competitive location globally for Huntsman, a Texas-based chemicals manufacturer, thanks to cheap North Sea energy, said CEO Peter Huntsman. Over the past decade, the company sold off most of its U.K. assets, reducing its staff there from more than 2,000 to around 70,” the outlet said.

Ireland has placed a moratorium on new data centers — which underpin AI computing — until 2028 because of a lack of electrical capacity.

In 2023, Germany re-fired some of its coal-based plants to meet electricity needs that renewables could not, according to Reuters.

Clean Energy Wire noted that fossil electricity production in Germany increased by 10 percent in the first half of 2025.

“‘Unusually weak’ wind conditions caused the output of wind power turbines to drop by 18 percent, while solar photovoltaic (PV) installations increased their output by 28 percent, Destatis [Germany’s statistical office] said. However, wind power remained the most important individual power source, contributing nearly 28 percent to the power mix, followed by coal (22.7%), solar power (17.8%), and then fossil gas (16.2%),” the outlet reported.

President Donald Trump warned European nations during his United Nations address in September, “If you don’t get away from the green energy scam, your country is going to fail.”

The European Union’s GDP grew at a 1.4 percent pace during the third quarter of 2025, versus an estimated 3.9 percent pace in the United States.

But Democrats want the U.S. to go down the same road as Europe, which only leads to higher energy costs and decreased economic opportunity. Thankfully, Republicans and some moderate Democrats blocked the Green New Deal catastrophe.

It is the path California is currently on, and unsurprisingly, it has caused some of the highest utility costs in the nation and the highest unemployment rate.

Trump is unleashing American energy production, meaning prices will fall and the economy will continue to grow.




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Conservative News DailyDecember 2, 2025
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