Latest news with #JohnKetchum
E&E News
11-06-2025
- Business
- E&E News
NextEra Energy CEO urges Republicans to keep renewables on the table
The head of the one of the nation's largest power providers said he agrees with Republicans on the need for the United States to bring back domestic manufacturing and to win the AI race. But the GOP bid to repeal clean energy tax credits, attack China using trade rules and boost the nuclear and coal industry will make their goal to dominate in energy impossible. NextEra Energy Chair and CEO John Ketchum told the POLITICO Energy Summit on Tuesday that the anticipated surge in power demand over the next 20 years could make the country vulnerable to energy shortages and reliability problems if 'we take renewables off the table.' 'We cannot afford to do that. If we do that, we will lose the AI race, and we will bring this economic expansion in the United States to a screeching halt,' said Ketchum, whose FPL utility subsidiary is the power provider for President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago home in Palm Beach, Florida. Advertisement lead image
Reuters
10-06-2025
- Business
- Reuters
NextEra CEO says renewables needed as bridge to expanding gas power
WASHINGTON, June 10 (Reuters) - Renewable energy sources like wind and solar power are needed to meet rapidly growing energy demand in the United States amid near-term obstacles to increasing natural gas capacity, said NextEra CEO John Ketchum on Tuesday. The head of the Florida-based power producer said at the Politico Energy Summit that competition and high costs to obtain gas turbines, a construction labor shortage, and the costs associated with tariffs mean that it will take at least seven years to get new gas-fired power plants online. "We need a bridge to get ourselves to 2032 when that gas shows up ... And when that gas shows up, it's going be three times more expensive than it's ever been," Ketchum said. "If we take renewables off the table, we are going to have a real power shortage problem in this country." U.S. House lawmakers narrowly passed a budget reconciliation bill last month that would phase out clean energy tax credits, slash spending on renewables, and claw back other climate-related funds. The House bill, which is now being debated by the Senate, shortens the window for developers to start and complete new clean energy projects to qualify for tax credits, and makes the incentives unworkable, Ketchum said. Ketchum's comments reverse an oft-repeated defense of natural gas in the fossil fuel industry during previous administrations seeking to fight climate change that had framed the fuel as a bridge to a renewables-driven carbon-free energy system. Trump opposes renewable energy subsidies and wants to expand production of oil, gas and coal. He has also declared an "energy emergency" to spur more fuel and electricity production, in part to meet growing demand for power for data centers and artificial intelligence.
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
1 Top Energy Stock I Wouldn't Hesitate to Buy in June
U.S. power demand could grow 55% by 2040. NextEra Energy is a leader in all forms of power. The company is in a strong position to continue growing shareholder value at an above-average rate. 10 stocks we like better than NextEra Energy › We use a lot of energy each and every day to power our modern lives. From the gasoline that fuels our cars to the natural gas that heats our homes to the electricity that runs our devices, we can't function in our modern society without energy. Our need for energy in the country is only growing. According to forecasts by IHS Outlook and McKinsey, U.S. power demand will surge 55% by 2040, fueled by AI data centers, the onshoring of manufacturing, and the electrification of everything, including transportation. This forecast bodes well for energy companies. As a leader in the sector, NextEra Energy (NYSE: NEE) is in a strong position to capitalize on the country's growing demand for electricity. That's one of the reasons why I wouldn't hesitate to buy this top energy stock in June. NextEra Energy is a powerhouse in the energy sector. It operates the largest electric utility in the country -- Florida Power & Light (FPL). It also operates NextEra Energy Resources, a leading North American clean energy company. Together, these businesses make NextEra Energy the world's largest producer of renewable energy from the wind and sun and a global leader in battery storage. The company also operates the largest natural gas-fired fleet in the country and has a leading nuclear energy business. These features make NextEra Energy "the quintessential, 'all-forms-of-energy' company," commented CEO John Ketchum on the company's first-quarter earnings conference call. The company doesn't just operate leading energy businesses; it knows how to grow them. No one has built more renewable energy-generation capacity than NextEra Energy over the past couple of decades. It has also built more gas-fired generation than any other company in the past 20 years. NextEra's investments to grow its business have paid big dividends for shareholders. The company has grown its adjusted earnings per share (EPS) at a 9% compound annual rate over the past 20 years. That has helped power a roughly 10% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) in its dividend during that period. The company's rising income and earnings have helped fuel market-crushing total returns for its shareholders (15.7% annualized versus 10.2% for the S&P 500). NextEra Energy's leadership in all forms of energy puts it in a strong position to capture a meaningful share of the growth it sees ahead for power demand. The company estimates that the U.S. will need to add 450 gigawatts (GW) of new power generation capacity to the grid by 2030 to keep up with current demand forecasts. While it will require all forms of energy to meet this demand, renewable energy, especially solar energy, will do most of the heavy lifting because of its lower costs and ability for rapid deployment. That outlook bodes well for NextEra Energy, a leader in solar. FPL has installed over 7.9 GW of solar to capture Florida's abundance of sunshine and help meet the state's power needs. That's the largest utility-owned solar portfolio in the country. FPL plans to deploy more than 17 GW of solar and over 7.6 GW of battery storage in the next 10 years to meet the state's power needs. In addition, NextEra's energy-resources segment has 28 GW of renewable energy projects under development that it expects to bring online over the next few years. The company plans to invest a staggering $120 billion over the next four years into maintaining and expanding America's energy infrastructure. This investment should power adjusted EPS growth at or near the top end of its 6% to 8% annual target range through 2027. That should give the company the power to continue growing its dividend (which at an over 3% yield is more than double the S&P 500's -1.5% yield) by around 10% annually through at least next year. Given the expected surge in power demand, the company should have ample opportunities to continue growing at a strong rate well beyond that time frame. NextEra Energy is a leader in the U.S. energy sector. That puts it in a strong position to capitalize on the expected surge in power demand over the next couple of decades. The company has an exceptional record of investing money to grow its business in a way that generates strong returns for shareholders. Because of that, I wouldn't hesitate to buy shares of this top energy stock in June. Before you buy stock in NextEra Energy, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the for investors to buy now… and NextEra Energy wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $657,385!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $842,015!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 987% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 171% for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join . See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of June 2, 2025 Matt DiLallo has positions in NextEra Energy. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends NextEra Energy. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. 1 Top Energy Stock I Wouldn't Hesitate to Buy in June was originally published by The Motley Fool Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Is NextEra Energy the Smartest Investment You Can Make Today?
NextEra Energy is a leader in all forms of clean energy. The company is in an excellent position to capitalize on the expected surge in power demand. It could continue to generate strong total returns for its shareholders. 10 stocks we like better than NextEra Energy › One of the smartest things you can do as an investor is focus on megatrends that should drive above-average growth in the coming years. The top companies focused on a major growth trend tend to deliver strong earnings growth and total returns over the long term. U.S. power demand is becoming a massive growth trend. After barely rising over the last two decades, forecasters expect electricity demand in the country to surge 55% by 2040. Several catalysts will power this acceleration, including artificial intelligence (AI) data centers, the electrification of transportation, and the onshoring of manufacturing. This catalyst drives the view that the U.S. will need to add a staggering 450 gigawatts (GW) of new power generation capacity by 2030. NextEra Energy (NYSE: NEE) is in a strong position to capitalize on this megatrend. Here's a look at whether the utility is one of the smartest investments you can make right now. "NextEra Energy is the quintessential 'all-forms-of-energy' company," stated CEO John Ketchum on the first-quarter earnings conference call. He noted that his company knows "renewables and storage because we're a world leader in the space." NextEra also knows "gas because we operate the largest gas-fired fleet in America and have built more gas-fired generation than anyone over the last two decades," and "nuclear because we operate one of the largest fleets in the United States." Further, NextEra Energy knows "how to serve growth because we've been doing it for decades across the United States." The company currently has 72 gigawatts of power generation capacity across the country. It's the largest electric utility in America and a leading North American clean energy company. NextEra's massive scale gives it a huge competitive advantage. Its years of experience in the development of renewable power have made it a leader in the sector. It's the No. 1 originator of renewable energy development projects among power and commercial and industrial customers, with a 20% share of the market. NextEra Energy's leadership in the sector puts it in a strong position to grow its business and shareholder value in the future. The company plans to invest about $120 billion in American energy infrastructure over the next four years. It's investing that capital in renewable energy projects (more than 25 GW of projects currently in its backlog), energy transmission lines, and other energy infrastructure projects. The company expects these investments will help grow its adjusted earnings per share at or near the high end of its 6% to 8% annual target range through 2027. It will also support dividend growth of around 10% per share through at least next year. The company's longer-term growth outlook is just as bright. NextEra Energy has a 300 GW pipeline of renewable and storage projects under development. Meanwhile, it partnered with gas turbine maker GE Vernova earlier this year to leverage their combined expertise and build new gas power generation. The companies expect to spend the next few years identifying projects they'll build and own to support large power purchasers like AI data centers. NextEra Energy is also looking to restart one of its dormant nuclear power plants and explore the potential of small modular reactor technology. With so much power demand ahead, NextEra Energy could grow its earnings and dividends at above-average rates for years to come. That positions the company to create significant value for shareholders in the future. Over the past 20 years, the company has grown its adjusted earnings per share at a 9% compound annual rate while increasing its dividend at around a 10% yearly rate. These growth drivers have powered market-crushing total returns (over 15% annualized for NextEra compared to around 10% for the S&P 500). NextEra Energy is a leader in producing clean power in the country. Its large scale and sector expertise put it in a strong position to capitalize on the expected future surge in energy demand. The utility could continue growing its earnings and shareholder value at an above-average rate in the future. While there are no guarantees its future returns will match its past success, NextEra looks like one of the smartest investments you can make these days. Before you buy stock in NextEra Energy, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the for investors to buy now… and NextEra Energy wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $642,582!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $829,879!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 975% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 172% for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join . See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of May 19, 2025 Matt DiLallo has positions in NextEra Energy. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends NextEra Energy. The Motley Fool recommends Ge Vernova. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Is NextEra Energy the Smartest Investment You Can Make Today? was originally published by The Motley Fool
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
This Is the Quintessential Energy Stock to Buy for the Coming Power Surge
The U.S. will need to add an estimated 450 gigawatts of power-generating capacity by 2030. Given the limitations of gas and nuclear, renewables will play a leading role in the near term. NextEra Energy is in an ideal position to meet the country's power needs. The U.S. will need to build a tremendous amount of new power-generating capacity by 2030. According to an estimate from leading utility NextEra Energy (NYSE: NEE), the U.S. will need to add more than 450 gigawatts (GW) of new power generation by the dawn of the next decade. That's massive, considering the country currently has less than 1,300 GW of generation capacity. Meeting the country's power needs will require all forms of energy. That plays right into the strategy of NextEra Energy, which is a leader across energy technologies. It's "the quintessential all forms of energy company," as CEO John Ketchum called it on its first-quarter earnings conference call. Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks to buy right now. Continue » Here's a look at the country's upcoming power problem and how NextEra Energy will play a leading role in providing solutions. On the first-quarter call, NextEra Energy's CEO discussed the country's surging power demand and the obstacles to meeting those needs. He stated: "The demand for electricity in the United States is here now, and it's not slowing down. Frankly, it's unlike anything we've ever seen since the end of World War II." Several factors are driving the acceleration in electricity demand, including the electrification of transportation, the onshoring of manufacturing, and AI data centers. Ketchum commented that exercising "energy realism and energy pragmatism" is important when looking at how best to address the country's power needs. He explained that "energy realism is about embracing all forms of energy solutions." Meanwhile, "energy pragmatism is about recognizing some technology is ready at scale today and other technology needs more time to get there, and there will be significant trade-offs with regard to the timing and cost of each." In the near term, it will be difficult for natural gas and nuclear to provide much additional power for practical reasons. For example, Ketchum noted that gas turbines are in short supply and in high demand, while there aren't enough workers to build these complex power plants. Meanwhile, there are limited opportunities to restart idled nuclear power plants. NextEra is evaluating the restart of its Duane Arnold facility in Iowa. Beyond that, small modular reactors are at least a decade away and will come at a much higher cost than new gas-fired plants, which have tripled in cost over the past few years, and that's before the potential impact of tariffs. Renewables, on the other hand, are the lowest-cost forms of new power generation capacity. NextEra can build these projects in less than a year and a half. Accordingly, "We should be thinking about renewables and battery storage as a critical bridge to when other technology is ready at scale, like new gas-fired plants," Ketchum said on the call. NextEra Energy is ideally suited to help meet the country's power needs. It's a world leader in developing renewable energy and storage. The company's energy resources segment currently has about 37 GW of generation and storage capacity in operation, with 87% renewables, 6% nuclear, and 6% gas and other. The company expects its renewable power capacity alone will grow to more than 70 GW by 2027. It already has firm contracts supporting 27.7 GW of new projects in its backlog. Meanwhile, its future pipeline of development sites is around 300 GW, giving it plenty of room to continue expanding to meet the country's growing power needs. Those projects, plus additional solar energy capacity and other investments within Florida Power & Light, its electric utility in Florida, position NextEra Energy to grow its earnings at an above-average rate in the coming years. Ketchum has repeatedly said that he would be disappointed if NextEra doesn't deliver adjusted earnings-per-share growth at or near the top end of its 6% to 8% annual target range through 2027. Meanwhile, the company expects to raise its dividend, which yields nearly 3.5%, at around a 10% annual rate through at least next year. NextEra has plenty of growth potential beyond 2027. In addition to continuing to build renewables, the company is in an ideal position to be a leader in building additional gas and nuclear capacity in the future. Ketchum noted: "We know gas because we operate the largest gas-fired fleet in America and have built more gas-fired generation than anyone over the last two decades. We know nuclear because we operate one of the largest fleets in the United States." Because NextEra is one company that truly does it all in the energy space, it's the quintessential company for the coming power surge. Few companies are in a better position to capitalize on the country's power surge than NextEra Energy. It's a leader in building renewables, which will be a crucial power source in the coming years. It also has expertise in gas and nuclear, which the country will need more of in the future. It should be able to continue growing its earnings and dividend at healthy rates, making it one of the best energy stocks to buy and hold to cash in on the coming power boom. Before you buy stock in NextEra Energy, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the for investors to buy now… and NextEra Energy wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $610,327!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $667,581!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 882% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 161% for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join . See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of April 28, 2025 Matt DiLallo has positions in NextEra Energy. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends NextEra Energy. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This Is the Quintessential Energy Stock to Buy for the Coming Power Surge was originally published by The Motley Fool Sign in to access your portfolio
