The utility industry has spent decades hardening the system against oil and gas shocks. But as the conflict in the Middle East escalates, we are discovering that the 'green' transition hasn't escaped geopolitical volatility—it has simply moved the chokepoints.
In my latest analysis for Forbes, I explore why the current strikes in the Strait of Hormuz pose a threat not only to thermal generation but also to wind and solar deployment. While we have strategic reserves for oil, the industry lacks a similar safety net for the critical minerals—lithium, copper, and rare earths—that travel these same volatile routes.
For utility executives and planners, the question is no longer just about the price of fuel, but the physical security of the transition itself. If the supply chain breaks, net-zero targets aren't just delayed; they become physically impossible to hit.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/kensilverstein/2026/03/25/the-iran-wars-hidden-victim-the-green-energy-supply-chain/?ss=energy