“Amazon, Google, Meta, Microsoft, and Oracle have announced AI capital spending plans totaling $650 billion this year, up 70% from 2025 and up 650% from 2020. This single-year spending total is larger than the individual Gross Domestic Product of 168 nations.”

“Economy-transforming artificial intelligence faces a rising battle between the Trump administration and progressive environmental groups, a major issue for the mid-term elections.”

Artificial intelligence is impacting the economy on a scale that may surpass changes from the internet revolution. Science, technology, energy, transportation, health care, industry, and business are being transformed at an accelerating pace. President Trump has emerged as an AI champion, but opposition is rising from progressive and environmental groups.

The term “artificial intelligence” was coined by John McCarthy at Dartmouth College in 1955. But it took 67 years until the introduction of ChatGPT in November of 2022 for AI systems to master the complexities of human language.…

“[New York Governor] Hochul’s shift could become a blueprint for Democrats across the country as they desperately try to convince voters they’re aggressively tackling cost-of-living concerns — including energy bills — ahead of the midterm elections.” – Politico, March 7, 2026

Next time you hear that climate policies are affordable or that wind and solar save money, look out the window. What are consumers saying? What are politicians under affordability pressure saying? No quantity of studies or fearmongering about climate can refute what is happening in the real world. Energy prices, energy economics, matter.

NY Governor Kathy Hochul

Democrat politicians today are retreating from heady climate goals of the past. Consider this article in Politico, “‘Hurting peoples’ pocketbooks’: Hochul pushes to pare back landmark climate law.”

“The New York governor is pushing for changes to the state’s landmark climate law because of affordability concerns, reflecting a national clash between high energy prices and environmental goals,” Marie French reports, adding:

It’s a major shift for Gov.

This post excerpts energy and climate material from the Media Balance Newsletter, a free fortnightly published by physicist John Droz Jr., founder of the Alliance for Wise Energy Decisions. Droz is also the author of the popular Substack Critically Thinking About Select Societal Issues.

Greed Energy Economics:
*** The hidden costs of ‘100 per cent renewable’
Reliable Solar Has Larger Land Footprint Than Previously Thought

Wind Energy — Offshore:
Trump Already Won Gold For Stopping Offshore Wind

Wind Energy — Other:
*** French court ruling may open way for cases against wind turbines
CFACT helps organize Oklahoma rally opposing massive wind projects
New York Times Gives Wind Turbines a Free Pass to Slaughter Birds

Nuclear Energy:
*** The Most Expensive Science Lesson in European History
An American college student’s thoughts about education, cities, and energy

Miscellaneous Energy News:
*** Trump Checkmates China With Oil
Energy policies insure affordability problems
Electricity is about to become the most valuable commodity on earth
Alex Epstein: A transcendent vision for US energy policy
California will be a national security risk for the entire country!…

“Europe’s biggest nuclear power operator EDF, which manages France’s fleet of 57 reactors, is under pressure to show it can improve on its record of reactor construction. Recent projects have been severely delayed and hugely over budget, taking well over 10 years to complete.” – Financial Times, February 20, 2026).

There’s a new leader in the nuclear power plant cost overrun derby, and it isn’t even in the clubhouse yet. Britain’s Hinkley Point C — being built in Somerset by France’s government-owned Électricité de France (EDF) — is now going to cost at least £49 billion ($65 billion) if it goes into service in 2030 and another £1 billion ($1.3 billion) if the first unit is delayed to 2031. This equates to $10 million per megawatt–best case–with multiple years of waiting.…