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Aug 12, 2025
By Kathryn Carley
A group of veterans and elected officials said the war in Ukraine highlights the risks of fossil fuel dependence.
For three years, the Russian military, fueled by Russian oil, has targeted Ukrainian oil and gas plants, resulting in widespread power outages and further human suffering.
Alex Cornell du Houx, president of Elected Officials to Protect America, a veteran and a former Maine state representative, said less centralized and cleaner energy sources are not only more resilient but better for the planet.
“The number one thing we can do to take out the financing from Putin and others is to create a clean energy economy that creates prosperity, creates security and protects our health for everyone,” du Houx contended.
He argued a Clean Energy Marshall Plan is needed to help Ukraine rebuild despite ongoing attacks. Experts noted even with strict sanctions, Russia continues to earn hundreds of billions of dollars each year from oil and gas. It is unclear whether Russian oil will come up in this week’s meeting between Presidents Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin.
Three years into the war, Ukraine is already working to build its clean energy infrastructure, including 19 wind turbines just 60 miles from the front line.
Svitiana Sushko, acting director of the Ukraine Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources, said the war has changed her country’s climate and energy policies from a matter of strategy to a means of survival.
“It’s not just a green project,” Sushko pointed out. “It’s our shield against the war. It’s actual tools of our independence.”
She noted solar panels on hospitals and schools are helping Ukrainians navigate life during wartime but American and European support is still greatly needed as winter approaches.
Local communities worldwide continue to advocate for Ukraine, sending much-needed funds and humanitarian supplies.
Jordan Meade, an elected official in Kent in the UK and adviser to Parliament, said the war is a battle for democratic values, including a prosperous and clean energy future.
“When local leaders act, when grassroots networks are established and mobilized, we create a chain of solidarity that no one, not even the tyrants, can extinguish,” Meade asserted.
The Ukrainian government supports the growth of solar power during wartime, including insurance for military risks, preferential lending, and grant programs for homes and businesses, according to the Solar Energy Association of Ukraine. (Adobe Stock)