Test your energy smarts
Have you noticed your electric bills creeping up? You’re not alone. Across the country, electricity prices have increased 18% since 2025. Why are bills going up when the Trump administration promised to cut them in half? Take our energy smarts quiz and find out.
1. What’s the best way to keep electricity affordable?
Keep burning coal or build more wind and solar
Answer: Build more wind and solar
It’s cheaper to build new wind and solar than it is to keep virtually any existing U.S. coal plant running. Even a new natural gas power plant is more expensive to build than wind, solar and battery storage.
2. Which state leads the nation in clean energy development?
California or Texas
Answer: Texas
Texas has more than double the clean energy capacity of California, which ranks second. Texas has enough clean energy existing, planned or under construction to power 50 million homes. That’s because — even in the heart of America’s oil and gas industry — clean energy is cheaper and faster to deploy than fossil fuels.
3. Who is preventing aging coal plants from retiring, costing consumers hundreds of millions of dollars?
Utility companies or Trump Department of Energy Chief Chris Wright
Answer: Trump Department of Energy Chief Chris Wright
Trump Department of Energy chief Chris Wright, a former oil and gas industry executive, has issued multiple “emergency” orders to keep retiring fossil fuel power plants online – even if they’re broken or aren’t generating any electricity. Keeping one coal-fired power plant in Michigan open is costing consumers $650,000 per day, and the tab has already topped $259 million. Across the board, this dirty power play could end up costing customers $3 billion, whether they get any electricity or not.
4. Which energy source is a threat to U.S. farmland?
Coal or solar
Answer: Coal
Mining coal and burning coal in power plants produces mercury and other toxic pollution that contaminates farmland soils and groundwater, harming crops and livestock. A 2020 study found that shutting down coal-fired power plants saved an estimated 26,610 lives and 570 million bushels of corn, soybeans and wheat growing nearby. On the other hand, crops grown under the shade of solar panels use less water and produce more food, according to multiple studies. And farmers can earn extra income by producing electricity, too. Of course, solar developers should team up with rural communities early, making sure projects reflect local priorities, share benefits fairly and help farmers thrive.
5. Which source of electricity does the Trump administration describe as “clean” and “beautiful”?
Coal or Solar
Answer: Coal
Coal has gotten a glow-up under the Trump administration, with the president, Secretary of Energy Chris Wright and Environmental Protection Agency chief Lee Zeldin all referring to the nation’s top source of toxic mercury pollution and black lung disease as “beautiful, clean coal.” They’re showing the love with more than words — the administration is illegally blocking clean energy development while recently giving the coal industry more than $770 million in taxpayer funds. Zeldin recently told coal industry executives, “Many of the items that were on your wish list are now done.”
Now, turn those smarts into action by signing this petition to support cleaner, more affordable energy. Sign up for the Vital Signs Newsletter.
Related:
- How a veteran, a retiree & a church each reduced their electric bills by more than $1,000 a year
- Opinion: Clean energy could lower electricity costs — if the Trump administration would stop blocking it
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This article originally appeared on Vitalsigns.edf.org and was syndicated by MediaFeed.co
