BlackRock Analyst: Middle East Conflict and AI Wave Boost "Green Energy" Awakening

Last year, after Trump returned to the White House, betting on clean energy stocks seemed like a foolish move. But for Helen Jewell, Chief Investment Officer of BlackRock’s Global Equity Fundamental Stocks, the rally in clean energy is expected to continue because the U.S.-led Middle East conflict provides a brutal reminder: how serious the world’s dependence on oil and gas in the region is. She said that strikes against Iran “highlight the strategic importance of energy independence, grid resilience, and domestic secure power generation. Given that the national grid needs rapid, safe incremental capacity, clean energy stocks can continue to strengthen.” Jewell stated, “We are very clear that, for AI to succeed, you need such enormous energy that the story is no longer ‘replacing traditional energy,’ but ‘coexisting with traditional energy.’” A year has passed: as of Wednesday’s close, the S&P Global Clean Energy Transition Index soared 61%, far outperforming the 23% gain of the S&P 500. It also outperformed the “Seven Giants” by 39%, and is nearly twice the increase of oil stocks—despite crude oil prices rising above $100 due to the Iran conflict. (Sina Finance)