Dr. Erin Baker: Implications of federal pullback on renewable energy

April 1, 2026

SciLine interviews experts and then makes the video and other resources rapidly available for TV newsrooms to use on air.

Journalists: Get Email Updates

What is Experts on Camera?

A federal “blockade” has stalled or cancelled hundreds of wind and solar projects across the country—just as electricity use is growing after decades of flat demand. On April 1, 2026, SciLine interviewed Dr. Erin Baker, a professor of mechanical and industrial engineering at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where she directs the Energy Transition Institute.

TV bundle includes:

Soundbite (SOT)
VOSOT script (can be used as-is or modified)
Raw, full-length interview video & log with timecodes (upon request via form below)

These resources are free to use. No attribution to SciLine is required.

Soundbite (SOT) and pronouncer

Downloadable video of the soundbite

High definition (mp4, 1280x720)

Download

Click for VOSOT script (can be used as-is or modified)

ANCHOR
THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IS HALTING WORK ON RENEWABLE ENERGY PROJECTS… LIKE WIND AND SOLAR FARMS… IN FAVOR OF COAL… OIL… AND NATURAL GAS.

VO
DOCTOR ERIN BAKER… IS A PROFESSOR OF ENGINGEERING… AND DIRECTOR OF THE ENERGY TRANSITION INSTITUTE… AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS… AT AMHERST.
SHE SAYS THAT ENERGY DEMANDS IN THE U-S ARE SURGING… DUE TO DATA CENTERS… ELECTRIC VEHICLES AND APPLIANCES… AND EXTREME HEAT.
SHE SAYS THAT… IT’S CHEAPER AND FASTER… TO BUILD WIND AND SOLAR FARMS… THAN OTHER KINDS OF POWER SOURCES… DESPITE THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION’S PUSH… FOR FOSSIL FUEL POWER PLANTS.
IN FACT… THE ECONOMICS OF WIND AND SOLAR ARE SO FAVORABLE… THAT RENEWABLE ENERGY IS GROWING FASTER THAN EVER.

SOT
Duration: 1:43
Super: Dr. Erin Baker, Professor of Engineering at University of Massachusetts – Amherst
“The actions of the federal government that have been intended to slow down or stop renewable energy have had really limited impact so far. So we can see that wind, solar and battery capacity grew at a record rate in 2025, adding 50 gigawatts. Even offshore wind, which is really facing headwinds, we still see that the first plants are coming online, which is really exciting. I think the question is why, with the government attacking it, why are we still seeing it growing? And I think answer is because it’s good business, right? These are profitable. They suppress prices for rate payers, which is really important right now. And the example I always give is just to look at Texas. They have the most wind, the second most solar. Their batteries are growing like crazy. They’re not doing it for environmental reasons. They’re doing it for business reasons. It’s just really good business.”

VO
DOCTOR BAKER SAYS HER BIGGEST CONCERN NOW… IS THE U-S LOSING JOBS AND INVESTMENT TO OTHER COUNTRIES… THAT ARE OUTPACING US IN RENEWABLE ENERGY.

Raw, full-length interview covers:

The significance of this setback to the renewable energy industry in the U.S., and what this means for the prospect of a green energy transition;
Whether the renewable energy industry is particularly vulnerable to the actions of the federal government, and what levers the federal government can pull to slow down the industry;
The implications of killing renewable energy projects as energy demand is growing (due factors including data centers, electrification of vehicles and appliances, and extreme heat), including effects on energy costs, and on the likelihood of new coal or gas power plants being built to meet demand; and
Possible paths forward for the energy transition and the renewable energy industry.