On his first day back in office, Donald Trump and his MAGA allies went full steam ahead in their quest to turn the clock backward on American Energy Progress by signing Executive Orders to do away with what they call “The Green New Deal.” Included in these orders were:
- The withdrawal from the Paris Climate Accord.
- Pausing funding for clean energy projects in both the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act.
- Reversing Biden/Harris tailpipe emission standards.
- Pausing lease sales of offshore wind projects in federal waters.
Trump claims that he and his team’s goals are to propel American Energy Independence to new heights and these Executive Orders will accomplish that.
Never mind that Biden/Harris policies were on pace to meet 2035 emission standards that their Administration had set.
Never mind that American Energy production in all sectors reached new highs in … wait for it…The Biden/Harris Administration and sales of electric and hybrid vehicles have increased twenty percent over the last year.
Never mind that these MAGA policies, reflected in these Executive Orders, are undermining the nation’s economic and national security by allowing other powers like China and the European Union to continue potentially leapfrogging the United States in electric vehicles and other clean energy options like wind and solar.
While basking in support from fossil fuel patrons and Tesla leader Elon Musk who does not care for competition in the electric vehicle industry, Mr. Trump has spent years spreading big lies about electric vehicle mandates, how wind power kills birds and marine life, and how climate change, despite the increase in climate-related disasters over the last 40 years, is a hoax.
As a headline in a recent New York Times piece read:
“Trump Wants to Unleash Energy, as Long as It’s Not Wind or Solar”
This does not sound like putting America First.
Fortunately, Mr. Trump’s Executive Orders will take time, if they are ever, to fully implement and the Biden/Harris policies toward clean energy as enacted in both the Infrastructure and Inflation Reduction Laws, have taken a life of their own as clean energy industries are popping up all over the country in Red, Purple, and Blue States like California, Georgia, and Michigan, home of the Big Three Automakers.
One can imagine that business and political leaders in these states would be very reluctant to turn back the clock on these new physical plants that are providing many good-paying jobs to white, blue, and green-collar voters.
These leaders, while paying attention to their bottom line and focus groups, are also probably loathe to concede economic nationalism to the Chinese, the Middle East (where even countries like Saudi Arabia are pushing to have greater energy dependence on renewables,) and the European Union.
That is why the Third Ways case study of last year’s Michigan Senate Race between Elissa Slotkin and Mike Rogers may be informative and prescriptive.

Faced with a multimillion-dollar ad campaign against Electric Vehicles and her perceived stance on it from her opponent who called President Biden’s Electric Vehicle policies “A Gas Car Ban,” as he preyed on voters’ fears about how they would lose jobs to China, how the Electric Cars were hard to maintain (like the public availability of electric vehicle charging stations,) and that these plans were hatched from Washington D.C. without input from the Auto Industry, now Senator Slotkin, according to Third Way Senior Advocacy Advisor Mary Sagatelova and Deputy Communications Director of Communications for the Climate and Energy Program Emily Becker:
“…Did not disavow EVs or dismiss voters’ concerns. Instead, she followed three simple principles for clean energy advocates communicating on EVs.”
Those three principles were:
- Messaging that promotes a strong auto industry that produces as many cars as possible. Third Way cited Slotkin’s message in response to Rogers’ attacks as an example when she said “We should be making as many cars as possible in Michigan now -whatever type of engine they have. If electric vehicles are going to be part of the auto industry’s future, we need to make them here just like gas-powered cars, so Michigan remains a leader in auto manufacturing into the future.”
- “Make the economic stakes clear.” According to the Third Way piece, Slotkin was successful in countering Rogers by pointing out to voters that letting countries like China have the upper hand in the Electric Vehicle industry would be detrimental in the long term to Michigan’s economy, their job security, the stability of the American Auto Industry, and the Nation’s economic and national security.
- “Face the Criticism” and Invoke Economic Nationalism: While agreeing with Michiganders that Electric Vehicles are not for everyone, including herself, Slotkin countered Rogers again by invoking economic nationalism and patriotism by offering her message that “I live on a dirt road, nowhere near a charging station, so I don’t own an electric car. No one should tell us what to buy and no one’s going to mandate anything. But here’s the thing. If there’s going to be a new generation of vehicles, I want that new generation built right here in Michigan. Not China. I approve this message because what you drive is your call. No one else’s.”
According to Sagatelova and Becker:
“Our polling showed that after hearing messaging on EVs, support for investment grew by 10 points overall, with Republican women and older Republicans expressing an even greater shift in enthusiasm. Slotkin’s victory emphasizes the value of these messages and proves that clean energy advocates don’t have to reject the electric car to win elections.
By focusing on choice and ensuring Michigan remains a leader in auto manufacturing, Sloktin effectively responded to Republican attacks and addressed Michiganders’ core economic concerns.”
When faced with Trump and MAGA’s push to turn the clock back on Electric Vehicle or other clean energy options that gained popularity during the Biden/Harris Administration, Democrats should learn from the Slotkin experience and apply that lesson to their local situations when the need arises.
Remember, facts and the forward momentum of the clean energy revolution are on their side.
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