decarbonfuse Icons/logo

Press Release

NextEra CEO Says Renewables Needed as Bridge to Expanding Gas Power

Published by Todd Bush on June 10, 2025

WASHINGTON, June 10 (Reuters) - NextEra CEO John Ketchum said Tuesday that renewable energy sources like wind and solar power are needed to meet rapidly growing energy demand in the United States amid near-term obstacles to increasing natural gas capacity.

The head of the Florida-based power producer said at the Politico Energy Summit that competition and high costs to obtain gas turbines, a construction labor shortage, and the costs associated with tariffs mean that it will take at least seven years to get new gas-fired power plants online.

>> In Other News: $22.37 Billion in Carbon Capture Funding Signals a New Era of Climate Innovation, Foundernest Reveals

NextEra Energy Chairman, President and CEO John Ketchum

NextEra Energy Chairman, President and CEO John Ketchum participates in a panel during CERAWeek in Houston, Texas, U.S., March 10, 2025.

"We need a bridge to get ourselves to 2032 when that gas shows up ... And when that gas shows up, it's going be three times more expensive than it's ever been," Ketchum said.

"If we take renewables off the table, we are going to have a real power shortage problem in this country."

U.S. House lawmakers narrowly passed a budget reconciliation bill last month that would phase out clean energy tax credits, slash spending on renewables, and claw back other climate-related funds.

The House bill, which is now being debated by the Senate, shortens the window for developers to start and complete new clean energy projects to qualify for tax credits, and makes the incentives unworkable, Ketchum said.

Ketchum's comments reverse an oft-repeated defense of natural gas in the fossil fuel industry during previous administrations seeking to fight climate change that had framed the fuel as a bridge to a renewables-driven carbon-free energy system.

Trump opposes renewable energy subsidies and wants to expand production of oil, gas and coal. He has also declared an "energy emergency" to spur more fuel and electricity production, in part to meet growing demand for power for data centers and artificial intelligence.

Icons/external Source

Add Comments

Subscribe to the newsletter

Icons/inbox check

Daily decarbonization data and news delivered to your inbox

Follow the money flow of climate, technology, and energy investments to uncover new opportunities and jobs.


Latest issues

  • Why Is Baker Hughes Betting $13.6B Now?

    Inside This Issue 🏭 Baker Hughes to Acquire Chart Industries, Accelerating Energy & Industrial Technology Strategy ⛽ Next Hydrogen Launches Ontario’s Largest Onsite Clean Hydrogen Refuelling S...

  • North Dakota Facility Starts Delivering Real CO₂ Removal

    Inside This Issue 💰 Gevo Sells Carbon Credits from North Dakota Asset ⚡ US Companies CPS Energy, Modern Hydrogen Agree to Work on Clean Power Generation Project ✈️ ESAF Takes Flight: Power-to-Liqu...

  • Carbon Waste Just Became a Gold Mine

    Inside This Issue 💰 Gevo Transforms Carbon Waste Into Market Gold 🛫 CADO and 4AIR Harmonize SAF Registries for Commercial and Business Aviation 🌊 Vortex Energy Receives Government Approval for Amb...

View all issues

Company Announcements

Daily decarbonization data and news delivered to your inbox

Follow the money flow of climate, technology, and energy investments to uncover new opportunities and jobs.

Subscribe illustration