Dear Editor: The evidence is clear: Wind and solar work.

A new Euronews report found that renewable energy expansion reduced wholesale electricity prices by an average of 24% across 19 European countries between 2023 and 2025, weakening dependence on volatile fossil fuel prices. Solar energy alone has saved European consumers over 3 billion euros since March 1 of this year as oil prices have skyrocketed from Trump’s war.

China, a rival to our country in so many ways, is emerging as a world leader in the transition to clean energy. In 2025, China installed 120 gigawatts of new wind capacity — 73% of all global additions. Its new five-year plan targets no less than 120 gigawatts of new wind annually, reaching 1,300 gigawatts by 2030.

And the Trump administration? It has now paid three energy companies — TotalEnergies, Bluepoint Wind and Golden State Wind — nearly $2 billion in taxpayer money to cancel wind leases, with each company pledging to redirect that money into oil and natural gas.

Lower prices. Energy security. Climate stability. Europe and China are building toward all three. We’re paying to go backward, as you can see when you fill your gas tank.

Dennis Harkins

Fitchburg