By Minener Staff | May 27, 2025
In remarks made during a high-level security forum in Madrid, economist Diana Furchtgott-Roth linked Spain’s April blackout to unreliable solar energy, warning of the economic and geopolitical risks of an overreliance on renewables.
U.S. economist Diana Furchtgott-Roth, known as a key energy adviser to former President Donald Trump, has blamed the April 28 blackout in Spain on “issues with two solar power plants.”
Speaking in Madrid at the Parliamentary Intelligence and Security Forum—chaired by former U.S. Congressman Robert Pittenger—Furchtgott-Roth delivered a sharp critique of Western energy policies. The event, which gathered global experts in cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, 5G, terrorism, and energy security, marked its 29th edition and was held in Spain for the first time after previous sessions in cities like Paris, Berlin, and London.
“I’ve heard more than once from President Trump himself that renewables are expensive and unreliable,” she told attendees. She urged the audience to question whether “net-zero emissions will truly save the planet” and stressed that amid the geopolitical focus on deterring Russia, fundamental energy issues are being overlooked. “We’re not talking about cheap, reliable energy as a pillar of our defense,” she said.
Highlighting the global energy divide, Furchtgott-Roth claimed that countries like Russia and China enjoy access to “cheap and reliable energy,” whereas the U.S. and Europe do not. “That was evident just a month ago with the blackout here in Spain, caused by two solar facilities,” she emphasized.
“Green Spending Isn’t Saving the Climate”
She went on to argue that excessive spending on green energy has had little impact on the climate, saying, “The West is pouring money into renewable infrastructure that isn’t changing climate trends.”
Instead, she claimed, such energy policies are leading to the “deindustrialization” of Europe and the U.S., weakening their economies and limiting resources for national defense. “Europe spends $355 billion a year on renewables. The U.S. spends even more,” she noted.
“Rather than making electricity cheaper, these investments have driven up costs and made our economies more fragile. We could use that money to bolster defenses against Russia, provide advanced weapons to Ukraine, or build drone shields—measures that would have real strategic value,” Furchtgott-Roth argued.
Her statements have reignited the debate over the resilience and cost-efficiency of renewable energy systems, particularly in light of grid instability events like the one experienced in Spain.
Minener covers the global intersection of mining, energy, and policy. Explore more energy security stories.