On Sunday, March 1, 2026, Americans awoke to the news that the United States and Israel had launched a series of missile strikes against Iran. Despite campaign promises to the contrary, the Trump administration had inserted the U.S. into a new armed conflict in the Middle East.
As Americans continue to struggle with inflation and the affordability of basic necessities, like groceries and fuel, it’s no surprise that many wondered what impact this new war with Iran would have on gas prices, in particular.
It did not take long to find out. Gas prices quickly spiked within days. Since Iran is one of the world’s largest producers of oil and gas, the impact to supply was immediate, as attacks impeded normal production throughout the Middle East. Additionally, Iran moved to shut down the Strait of Hormuz, which normally sees about 20% of the world’s oil supply pass through its narrow channel daily.
Ironically, as the oil and gas industry struggles with a new conflict in the Middle East, other industries—ones that lately have been negatively impacted by Trump administration policies—may see a reversal of fortunes. In a recent E&E News by Politico article, authors Christa Marshall and Corbin Hiar note that “[h]igher gas prices…could create economic and political incentives for solar, wind, batteries and other clean technology.”
These industries have recently suffered setbacks because of “Trump’s rollback of federal subsidies for clean energy and electric vehicles, which supporters say can protect Americans from paying more on utilities or at the pump.”
So what kind of increase in interest could solar and wind see because of the new war in Iran? Marshall and Hiar believe that “[t]he scale of a boost for renewable energy companies could depend on how much damage the war causes to Middle East oil and gas infrastructure and how long the hostility imperils shipments of crude and liquefied natural gas…It also hinges on the price of natural gas, which influences whether renewables are viewed as more economically attractive.”
Experts were quick to point out that “[r]enewables offer a fundamentally lower level of commodity risk compared to imports of fossil fuels.” After all, solar and wind power can’t get stuck in the Strait of Hormuz.
Kevin Book, the managing director of the research firm ClearView Energy Partners, believes that “[i]f the trend continues, the president could rethink his opposition to wind, solar and EVs.” Book notes that “[w]e would not yet rule out a pivot to clean energy on the basis of a pragmatic response to price increases from a supply shock,” although he admits that “they’d probably draw from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve first.”
While a boost to the solar and wind industries would be welcomed by many, workforce issues persist. Given the current skills gap issues creating a shortage of workers throughout industry, the number of new workers with solar and wind skills will require both upskilling of current workers and training current students with the specific skills they’ll need to be successful in the jobs on the horizon.
Fortunately, you don’t have to be an expert at training to implement a new program. The experts at Amatrol have been working together with industry and educational institutions for years to design training programs featuring eLearning curriculum and hands-on experience with trainers equipped with industrial components workers will encounter on the job.
For example, Amatrol offers a variety of solar and wind trainers that teach the hands-on skills technicians need. Check out the following trainer that teaches the basics of both technologies:
- Alternative Energy Learning System – Wind and Solar (850-AEC): the demand for qualified solar and small wind technicians is rapidly rising, as more consumers and businesses apply solar energy and small wind systems in their communities. Amatrol’s 850-AEC tackles basic alternative energy training through a unique combination of eLearning curriculum and hands-on experience with real industrial solar and wind components.
For more information about how Amatrol can help you upskill your current workers, contact an expert at Amatrol today!
