Renewable energy production is increasing in the United States, but so is oil and gas production. Despite the escalating effects of carbon emissions on the climate, the U.S. set records for crude oil and natural gas output in 2023. 

Researchers say that accelerating the transition to renewable energy can help mitigate climate change, enhance energy security, and stimulate economic growth. Three such energy experts at the Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts — an economist, a policymaker, and a historian — chart some of the challenges and opportunities on the path to a fully renewable energy grid in the U.S.