Energy and the US election

US energy policy plays a leading role in developments such as climate change mitigation, the shale gas revolution and investment in research and development of alternative energy sources and technologies. All of these are central in determining the speed and direction of the low-carbon energy transition. As such, the US energy agenda is crucial to shaping not only domestic energy systems but also international ones.

The forthcoming US elections therefore represent a pivotal moment for energy policy, not just for the US but also globally. The outcome will have implications for the Clean Power Plan, the future of renewable energy provision, support for conventional and unconventional fossil fuels, and energy security, among many other factors, which could alter the course of the energy transition for decades to come.

In preparation for the new presidency, this Focus presents discussions of the possible evolution of US energy policy and the strategic role the US might play in the global context, depending on the result. The pieces offered provide analyses of the possible energy programmes of the two main presidential candidates, Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. The Focus also explores the implications of these energy policies for the major supply countries and their wider influence on energy policymaking and security around the world.