Uncovering false narratives and institutionalized deceptions is critical to building a responsible and informed future for energy and the built environment. Policies and practices must be based on facts and data, not fearmongering, corrupt quid pro quo politics, or hollow posturing. And the reality is, there is no “national energy emergency,” nor is there inadequate electric generating capacity, or a dangerous reliance on foreign energy. President Trump’s energy emergency executive order, based on fossil fuel lobbying and media-driven claims, crumbles when faced with actual data. 

The Facts Speak for Themselves

Contrary to specious claims of impending energy scarcity driving higher energy costs, threats to energy security, and the “drill baby drill” narrative, the data paints a very different picture:

• The U.S. produces more energy than it consumes. Year after year, our country maintains a surplus in energy production.
• The U.S. is the world’s largest oil producer, surpassing fossil-fuel giants like Saudi Arabia.
• The U.S. is the world’s largest natural gas producer, with production levels double that of Russia, the second-largest producer.
• The U.S. dominates in global energy exports, ranking as the leading exporter of gasoline and natural gas, while also ranking fourth in coal exports.

These facts dismantle the illusion of an “energy crisis.” The scare tactics surrounding scarcity, security, and rising prices collapse under the weight of verifiable realities.

Fossil Fuels’ Grip on Energy Policy

Recent revelations highlight the outsized influence of Big Oil and Gas in shaping global energy policies, using American fossil-fuel exports as tools of political and economic leverage. This influence often operates under the guise of “energy security” while masking coercive tactics that prioritize corporate profits over genuine need. Japan, Taiwan, India, and others have been pressured into increasing purchases of U.S. fossil fuels, often framed as efforts to “strengthen relations” or “enhance their energy security.” While companies portray such deals as evidence of rising global demand, the reality is these countries are being coerced into compliance—not because they genuinely need or want these polluting energy resources. 

This influence is rooted in systemic corruption, where powerful fossil-fuel companies influence policy to maintain their dominance. Rather than perpetuating the industry’s manufactured crises, urgent action is needed to address pollution and climate disasters. The path forward lies in embracing innovation and accelerating the transition to a carbon-free, affordable, and secure energy future. 

The Role of Technology and Diverse Energy Sources

Despite the fossil fuel industry’s longstanding grip on U.S. federal policy, technological innovation and the rapid expansion of renewable energy are delivering unprecedented energy stability, security, and cost savings. Both domestically and globally, the trend is unmistakable: a decisive shift away from fossil fuel dependence. Consider the following:

• 85% of global new electricity generation in 2023 came from renewables, with even higher numbers expected in 2024.
• Global investments in clean energy are far outpacing fossil fuels, signaling a transformational move toward sustainability.
• Record growth in renewables is driving down costs, making low-cost renewable energy a powerful incentive to meet the ambitious goal of tripling global renewable power capacity by 2030 outlined in the COP28 Consensus.
• 96% of all new U.S. grid capacity in 2024 will be carbon-free. The U.S. is set to add 55% more power capacity to the grid than it did in 2023—the largest annual increase since 2003. And, according to the EIA, the U.S. added 1,766 new power industry renewable energy plants from 2020 through 2023.

In 2024, 41.5% of all U.S. electricity generation was carbon-free, up from 33% in 2010, with EIA projections forecasting 68% carbon-free electricity by 2030.

All of this terrifies the fossil fuel industry, which poured massive amounts of money into the recent U.S. election to maintain and expand its global influence and profits. As fracking billionaire Harold Hamm bluntly stated, “We’ve got to do this because it’s the most important election in our lifetime.” Big Oil poured $445 million into the last election cycle to influence the president and congress. 

The Building Sector: Efficiency, Carbon Reductions, and Substantial Cost Savings

One of the clearest examples of energy and emissions progress and significant cost savings can be found in the U.S. building sector, which consumes 73% of all electricity produced in the country. Despite its large share of electricity use, the building sector has made remarkable strides in reducing energy consumption, consumer costs, and carbon emissions:

• Energy use has declined despite growth. From 2005 to 2023, total energy use in residential and commercial buildings fell by 3.84%, even as over 65 billion square feet of new construction was added.
• Electricity use has decreased. Building sector electricity consumption in 2023 was 6.5% lower than it was in 2005.
• Massive cost savings for consumers. Residential and commercial energy consumers saved over $1.5 trillion between 2005 and 2023—compared to 2005 projections—due to building and systems efficiency improvements, renovation and adaptive reuse of existing buildings, and incorporating passive heating, cooling, and daylighting design strategies. In 2023 alone, these savings amounted to $198 billion.

• Significant reductions in carbon emissions: From 2005 to 2023, building emissions intensity dropped 39.5% in residential and 47.9% in commercial, and overall building emissions fell about 32%.

These achievements underscore the power of design, planning, technological innovation, and advances in addressing energy, economics, and climatic challenges regardless of politics and without relying on fear-driven policies or misinformation.

The Built Environment: Moving Beyond Manufactured Crises 

Beyond building operations, the built environment—buildings, landscapes, and infrastructure—offers another significant opportunity to reduce both consumer costs and environmental impacts. Professionals in architecture, planning, design, and construction are increasingly focusing on reducing embodied energy and carbon—the energy use and emissions associated with construction and the creation, transportation, and production of building and infrastructure materials. This shift marks a critical next step, moving beyond operational energy efficiency to address the full lifecycle emissions of construction.

Strategies such as building renovation, restoration and adaptive reuse, infill development, carbon-sequestering landscapes, material reuse, nature-based systems and materials, and cleaner energy transitions are currently driving this progress. As a result, the U.S. industrial sector has achieved a 9.7% reduction in carbon emissions from 2010 levels as of 2023, with EIA projections forecasting an 18.6% reduction by 2030. Construction carbon emissions are expected to drop 13% from today’s levels by 2030. 

A Future Powered by Facts, Not Fear

The narrative of a national energy emergency is a manufactured crisis designed to serve the interests of the fossil-fuel industry. However, the facts tell the real story: the U.S. enjoys energy abundance and is steadily transitioning toward a cleaner, more secure energy future.

The remarkable progress and innovation within the U.S. and global built environment highlight the transformative impact of architecture, planning, and design in creating resilient, thriving communities, reducing energy consumption and costs, and mitigating climate impacts.

Don’t buy the hype. Instead, focus on making the world a better place. Your expertise and skills are more important now than ever before—and they are making a real difference.

Featured image:  PDX Image by ZGF Architects. Photo: Ema Peter.