Renewable energy sources have become politicized, especially in light of President Donald Trump’s second inauguration earlier this year, advocates say, and electric vehicles have become symbols of the climate crisis in general.
Trump’s first 95 days were the focus of a panel at the 2025 Society of Environmental Journalists conference on April 25 in Tempe.
Trisha DelloIacono, head of policy at CALSTART, said that there have been landmark, immediate changes as a result of Trump’s second administration.
“We’ve seen dramatic federal shifts in these first 95 days,” DelloIacono said.
She also shared a quote she found inspiring, which she said summarizes the mission of environmentalists in the fight against the climate crisis through electric and zero-emission vehicles. According to Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, quoted by DelloIacono, environmentalists “need to meet the (climate) crisis and chaos with courage.”
DelloIacono said the Trump administration is actively fighting against legislation such as the California Clean Air Act waiver, which allows California to pursue car emissions standards that are stricter than federal standards.
Emily Wirzba, the director of federal affairs at the Environmental Defense Fund, agreed that the rapid and ever-changing landscape of the climate crisis can be summarized by the dichotomy surrounding electric vehicles. Wirzba said the tax credits associated with electric vehicles is one of the main aspects of the changes.
“The next couple weeks are the most important time to watch these credits,” she said.
Wirzba was referring to the enactment of tariffs and other climate economic changes made by Trump’s administration.
Zack Ruderman, vice president of sales and marketing at Orange EV, and Asaf Nagler, vice president of external affairs at ABB E-mobility North America, represented the production side of the electric vehicle industry.
Ruderman said he was frustrated with the way Orange EV has had to adapt to the changing landscape of the industry.
“It’s been paralyzing, because of how dynamic things have been (during the Biden administration),” he said. “It changes, and changes again. You come up with a new plan … at that point you’re just dizzy.”
Ruderman said the Orange EV engineering team has had to devote time to trying out new production pieces in order to reduce the internal impact of Trump’s proposed tariffs. Orange EV, alongside its customers, have spent “a lot of time planning, and replanning and replanning” their production and acquisition strategies in the wake of the new administration.
“Tariffs are stifling the ability to bring over these important parts we need for these (electric) vehicles,” DelloIacono said.
Nagler, part of an electric-charging manufacturing conglomerate, said that uncertainty has been “very much the case” in the electric vehicle and renewable energy industries.
He argued that electrification, when it comes to vehicles and beyond, is not a partisan issue, but one of financial acumen.
But, Wirzba said the outlook on the electric vehicle market and renewable energy in general is not completely dim.
“I’m not gonna say it’s gonna be easy,” she said. “There’s a lot more work that needs to be done.”
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Bella Mazzilli is a reporter at State News Magazine at Arizona State University and is part of a student newsroom led by The Arizona Republic.
Coverage of the Society of Environmental Journalists conference is supported by Arizona State University’s Cronkite School of Journalism, the University of Arizona, the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust and the Arizona Media Association.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Electric cars, renewable energy caught up in politics, advocates say