According to a report by Israel's Hayom News, Trump is expected to hold a conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as part of a series of calls being conducted with regional leaders.

Diplomatic Engagement

The report indicates that the anticipated call with Netanyahu forms part of a broader outreach effort involving multiple regional leaders. Israel's Hayom News cited this development without providing additional details regarding the specific agenda, timing, or the identities of other regional leaders included in the series of calls.

No further information on the scope or subject matter of these diplomatic communications was available in the source report.

Restricting new solar and wind resources could cost the United States an additional $121.2 billion in electricity and natural gas expenses from 2027 through 2033, according to a new analysis by the Corporate Energy Buyers Association (CEBA). The study, titled "The Cost of Constraining New Solar and Wind," warns that limitations on these resources will lead to higher energy bills for households and businesses, with Texas facing the most significant financial impact. The analysis compares baseline and high-load-growth scenarios to determine the economic implications of preventing solar and wind from competing against other generation sources.

Projected Cost Increases

The financial burden of these constraints is expected to fall heavily on consumers. Households across the U.S. could see an additional $81.2 billion, or $11.6 billion annually, in electricity and natural gas costs over the modeled seven-year period. Commercial and industrial customers are projected to pay an extra $40 billion, or $5.7 billion annually, in electricity costs alone during the same timeframe.

Impact on Electricity Prices

The study indicates that electricity prices are already rising faster than general inflation, with the U.S. Energy Information Administration estimating annual electricity inflation at about 5%. If new solar and wind resources are constrained, the average U.S. electricity price between 2027 and 2033 could increase by up to 6.1%, reaching $39.7 per megawatt-hour compared to $37.4 per megawatt-hour. CEBA notes this is equivalent to adding an entire extra year of inflation to electricity prices.

Regional Impact on Texas

Texas is identified as the region most vulnerable to these cost increases. Households served by the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) could see average electricity costs rise by 22.2% from 2027 through 2033. Economywide, residential and commercial customers in ERCOT may incur $21 billion in additional electricity costs over the seven-year period, averaging $3 billion annually.

Reliability and Policy Recommendations

While all modeled scenarios included new natural gas generation, constraining solar and wind would force greater reliance on natural gas. This shift exposes consumers to fuel price volatility and heightens grid reliability risks during periods of peak energy use. CEBA CEO Rich Powell emphasized the need for all energy options to compete on a level playing field to maintain economic competitiveness. Nidhi Thakar, CEBA's Senior Vice President for Policy, advocated for technology-neutral permitting reforms to remove deployment barriers and ensure reliable, affordable power.