What happens to US energy policy after the midterm elections

The article, published by MIT Technology Review in its weekly climate newsletter The Spark and written by Casey Crownhart, analyzes what the results of the midterm congressional elections mean for US energy and climate policy. The piece was published on November 4, 2026, and the content received appears to be complete.

According to the article, Democrats have taken control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate, a dramatic reversal from Donald Trump's victory two years ago. Even so, the author cautions that the sweeping climate and energy policy shifts seen in the recent past when control of Congress and the presidency changed are unlikely. What lies ahead is a period of divided government, with a Congress likely to clash with the Trump White House over the next two years.

For context, the piece recalls two recent laws. The 2022 Inflation Reduction Act included massive support for clean energy, with tax credits, grants and government loans. The 2025 One Big Beautiful Bill Act largely rolled back that support and those incentives. Both were passed during periods of unified government: Democratic in the first case, Republican in the second.

Democrats now control both chambers, but Trump remains in the White House and neither chamber comes close to the two-thirds majority needed to override a presidential veto. Any new law to boost climate action or clean energy would therefore need Trump's signature, sharply limiting legislative room until the next elections. Bipartisan compromises are possible.

One issue to watch is permitting reform. In late September, a bipartisan group of senators introduced a bill, the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act, that would reform how new energy projects are reviewed and approved, with the aim of cutting red tape and speeding up permits. The Senate is scheduled to vote on it on November 9, before the new Congress takes over in January. The White House supports the bill, and it could pass the Senate if a few Democrats join the Republican majority. However, Democrats could wait until next year to renegotiate it, although any deal would still need Trump's approval.

With Democratic control of Congress, the article also anticipates greater scrutiny of Trump and the agencies led by his appointees. Democratic leaders have already signaled they will go after officials such as EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin over staff and spending cuts. Democrats will be able to subpoena cabinet members and open investigations.

Beyond the national level, the author highlights local action as a key trend. Democrats swept local control in Pennsylvania, and officials there have announced plans to support renewables and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. They also took control of the Georgia Public Service Commission for the first time in 30 years. This body regulates electric utilities and largely controls grid expansion.

One of the broadest effects, according to the piece, will be on the data center industry. According to Ballotpedia's tracking, there were 41 local ballot measures related to data centers, and voters overwhelmingly chose to restrict their development. As of the morning of November 4, nearly all of those measures appeared on track to reject data center development. AI critics also fared well: Democrat Gina Hinojosa won the Texas governorship, defeating Republican Greg Abbott. During her campaign she called for a law to fully pause data center development; if passed, it could have major implications for the state's power grid and for the industry at large.

The article concludes that there may be no drastic federal climate and energy legislation before the next major elections, but many voters have clearly signaled that they want change. It remains to be seen how much will shift over the next two years.