Demand for hydropower surges as Trump clamps down on clean energy

The Trump administration's restrictions on clean energy are driving renewed interest in hydropower as an alternative electricity source, with developers looking to deploy submersible tidal generators in the Great Lakes region's connecting waterways. The Great Lakes, which hold a significant share of the world's freshwater, border major North American cities including Chicago, Toronto, Montreal, and Detroit—areas facing growing electricity demand and rising power costs. While the five main lakes lack significant tides or currents for hydropower generation, the waterways linking them offer potential for next-generation tidal technology. Proponents argue that harnessing these resources could provide a cleaner electricity source to meet demand in densely populated areas as the cost of power rises nationwide. The development represents an effort to expand renewable energy capacity despite the administration's broader shift away from federally-backed clean energy initiatives.