Global Energy Shift Prioritizes Security, Driving Renewables and Nuclear

A strategic shift toward energy security is accelerating the global adoption of renewable power and advanced nuclear technology, according to recent analyses. The change is driven by geopolitical instability and supply chain vulnerabilities rather than climate policy alone, marking a potential long-term transformation for energy markets.

According to OilPrice.com, recent energy crises, including turmoil in the Strait of Hormuz, have catalyzed demand for solar energy, electric vehicles, and battery storage. The selling point for clean energy has shifted from sustainability to representing energy independence and autonomy, assets seen as indispensable amid rising global conflict. "Wind and solar cannot be embargoed, blockaded, or shut off by a foreign power," wrote David Frykman of venture capital group Norrsken in a Fortune op-ed cited by the source.

Concurrently, Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) are becoming a national security priority for the United States, OilPrice.com reported. The need for resilient, secure baseload electricity to support the defense industrial base, AI infrastructure, and semiconductor manufacturing is driving interest. SMRs offer potential for "behind-the-meter" deployment adjacent to critical facilities, reducing dependence on vulnerable grid infrastructure.

This push for new power generation comes as soaring demand from data centers strains U.S. electricity systems. OilPrice.com reported that U.S. power demand from major data centers rose to 61.8 GW in 2025 and is projected to reach 134.4 GW by 2030. This expansion has triggered a backlash, with at least 14 states considering legislation to temporarily halt new data center construction.

Those states include Georgia, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New York, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Vermont, Virginia, and Wisconsin, according to OilPrice.com. A recent Gallup poll cited in the report showed 70% of Americans oppose building data centers in their communities.

Implications for the Bakken: The global pivot to energy security reinforces the value of domestic hydrocarbon production from regions like the Bakken. While the reports highlight a boom in renewables and nuclear for electricity generation, these technologies do not displace the need for oil and natural gas in transportation, manufacturing, and as feedstock for industry. The emphasis on securing domestic industrial capacity and resilience could bolster the strategic importance of North Dakota's energy sector.

Furthermore, the intense power demand from data centers and industrial users underscores the ongoing need for reliable baseload and dispatchable power, a role where natural gas from the Bakken plays a critical part in the grid's stability. The national security focus on energy may also influence long-term infrastructure and export policy, potentially benefiting operators and royalty owners in the Williston Basin.