Bernie Sanders Criticizes Trump for Labeling Climate Change a 'Con Job,' Claims He Serves Fossil Fuel Billionaires
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Sep 24 2025
0mins
Source: Benzinga
Bernie Sanders Critiques Trump: Sen. Bernie Sanders has condemned President Trump's dismissal of climate change, labeling it an existential threat and accusing Trump of prioritizing fossil fuel interests over environmental concerns.
Trump's Climate Change Remarks: During a speech at the United Nations General Assembly, Trump referred to climate change as "the greatest con job ever perpetrated," which surprised global leaders and highlighted his administration's opposition to renewable energy projects.
Nuclear Energy Expansion: In contrast to renewable energy, Trump is advocating for a significant increase in U.S. nuclear energy capacity, aiming to quadruple it by 2050, which has positively impacted nuclear energy stocks.
Market Reactions: The Trump administration's actions against renewable energy have led to declines in clean energy ETFs, while stocks related to nuclear energy have seen substantial gains year-to-date.
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Analyst Views on CEG
Wall Street analysts forecast CEG stock price to rise
7 Analyst Rating
6 Buy
1 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 239.250
Low
350.00
Averages
414.86
High
460.00
Current: 239.250
Low
350.00
Averages
414.86
High
460.00
About CEG
Constellation Energy Corporation is a producer of emissions-free energy and an energy supplier to businesses, homes and public sector customers nationwide. The Company’s nuclear, hydro, wind, and solar generation facilities have the generating capacity to power the equivalent of 27 million homes, providing about 10% of the nation’s clean energy. Its segments include Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, New York, ERCOT, and Other Power Regions. Through its integrated business operations, it sells electricity, natural gas, and other energy-related products and sustainable solutions to various types of customers, including distribution utilities, municipalities, cooperatives, commercial, industrial, public sector, and residential customers in markets across multiple geographic regions. It operates approximately 55 gigawatts of capacity from nuclear, natural gas, geothermal, hydro, wind and solar facilities.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
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- Environmental Constraints Impact: PJM indicated that certain power plants might face operational constraints due to environmental permits, raising risks to electric reliability and public safety, which could negatively affect CEG's market position.
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- Energy Dependency Overview: The U.S. military consumes approximately 4.6 billion gallons of fuel annually, ranking it among the top 60 oil-consuming nations globally, highlighting a significant strategic vulnerability in modern defense.
- Texatron Technology Progress: American Fusion is advancing its 5 MW preproduction Texatron model, with plans for 10 MW and 20 MW systems, aiming to provide clean energy solutions for military and civilian sectors without reliance on vulnerable fuel supply chains.
- Significant Market Potential: The global fusion energy market is projected to grow from approximately $288 billion in 2025 to $419.84 billion by 2030, with a CAGR of 8%, indicating strong demand for innovative energy technologies.
- Diversified Business Model: American Fusion's power-as-a-service model is designed to serve multiple sectors, reducing upfront capital costs for customers while leveraging successful technology applications in one market to accelerate adoption in adjacent markets.
See More
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- Nuclear Power Agreement: Constellation Energy signed a 20-year power purchase agreement with Microsoft to restart the Three Mile Island nuclear plant in 2024, highlighting the critical role of nuclear energy in meeting the power demands of AI computing.
- New Project Launch: The recently acquired Calpine unit of Constellation Energy signed a 380-megawatt agreement with CyrusOne to power a new data center in Texas, further solidifying its position in the data center power supply market.
- Competitive Advantage: Unlike advanced nuclear reactor companies that require regulatory approval, Constellation Energy's nuclear assets are ready to provide immediate power to data center operators, enhancing its appeal among AI-focused investors.
- Industry Outlook: Although the analyst team did not include Constellation Energy in their top investment stocks, its pivotal role in AI industry growth and power supply capabilities make it a noteworthy investment option.
See More
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- Nuclear Power Agreement: Constellation Energy signed a 20-year power purchase agreement with Microsoft to restart the Three Mile Island nuclear plant in 2024, addressing the urgent power needs of data centers and enhancing its strategic position in the AI sector.
- Project Expansion: In 2025, Constellation entered another 20-year power purchase agreement with Meta Platforms, planning to resume operations at the Clinton Clean Energy Center in Illinois by 2027, further solidifying its role in supplying power to AI data centers.
- Large-Scale Power Contracts: Constellation's recently acquired unit, Calpine, signed a 380-megawatt agreement with CyrusOne to power a new data center in Texas, which not only boosts its market competitiveness but also meets the surging power demands of the AI industry.
- Increased Market Appeal: With Constellation's nuclear assets ready to provide immediate power without regulatory delays, its stock becomes an attractive option for AI-focused investors, reflecting its significance in the rapidly evolving AI market.
See More
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- Kroger's Acquisition: Kroger's announcement of a $1.65 billion acquisition of family-owned Giant Eagle caused its stock to plummet to a nearly two-year low of $54.15, as investors expressed skepticism about the deal's ability to create value quickly, with significant earnings benefits not expected until the second full fiscal year post-closing.
- Market Value Decline: The acquisition plan has triggered regulatory scrutiny, diminishing market confidence in Kroger's long-term growth strategy, leading to a slight 1% drop in stock price by the end of Wednesday, although it rebounded from intraday lows, indicating complex market sentiment.
- Constellation Energy Target Cut: Citi lowered Constellation Energy's price target from $348 to $297, resulting in a stock drop to a 52-week low of $228.65, reflecting diminished investor expectations for AI-driven electricity demand, which caused over a 35% market value loss in the first half of 2026.
- Shutterstock Merger Collapse: Shutterstock's stock plummeted to a record low of $9.43 after Getty Images terminated a planned $3.7 billion merger, leading investors to doubt its competitive position in the generative AI landscape, despite market sentiment shifting from neutral to extremely bullish.
See More
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- Significant Stock Drop: Constellation Energy Corp. (CEG) shares fell nearly 5% on Wednesday after Citi cut its price target from $348 to $297, marking the steepest decline in a month and reflecting market concerns about the company's future performance.
- Electricity Demand Risks: PJM warned that peak electricity demand could reach 159,563 MW on July 1 and 162,860 MW on July 2 amid an expected heatwave, posing threats to grid stability and potentially impacting CEG's operations.
- Environmental Constraints Impact: PJM indicated that certain power plants might face operational constraints due to environmental permits, raising risks to electric reliability and public safety, which could negatively affect CEG's market position.
- Retail Sentiment Shift: Despite the stock's decline, retail investor sentiment on Stocktwits shifted from bearish to bullish, indicating optimism about a potential rebound, with users expressing that buying at these prices is a good opportunity.
See More
U.S. Stocks Close Lower Amid Tech Selloff
- Tech Selloff: U.S. stock markets closed lower on the first trading day of the new quarter, with the Nasdaq Composite dropping about 173 points or 0.66%, indicating a decline in investor confidence in technology and semiconductor stocks, which could negatively impact overall market sentiment.
- Fed Chair's Optimism: Kevin Warsh expressed optimism about artificial intelligence at the ECB Forum in Portugal, asserting that AI will create more jobs, despite current inflation levels being 'too high,' which may influence future monetary policy decisions.
- Employment Market Data: ADP reported that private sector employers added 98,000 jobs in June, indicating continued growth in the job market, which is expected to provide positive signals for the upcoming non-farm payroll report and influence interest rate expectations.
- Geopolitical Tensions: Iran's refusal to meet with U.S. envoys has heightened market concerns over Middle Eastern tensions, leading to a retreat in oil prices, with Brent crude futures trading around $70.75 per barrel and WTI crude futures down 1.33%.
See More
