Be There Before®
Welcome to the Be There Before (BTB), Energy – your view into what's driving the conversation in the energy industry. This proprietary look at established, emerging, and social media landscapes comprises data from a treasure trove of tools and expert analysis from INK's energy team. We determine who is talking, where they're talking, what they're talking about, and why. In-depth monitoring, analysis, and going beneath the surface of what's trending is critical to bringing value to our clients. Our aptly named BTBs are just one of the tools we use to Be There Before® for our clients.
Despite the pendulum starting to swing back from analyzing Trump’s every policy move, tariffs continue to dominate energy conversations, prompting a new topic to emerge (or re-emerge): Affordability.
At CERAWeek last month, energy executives, elected officials, and industry leaders found one thing everyone could agree on — affordability. While discussions ranged from advocating for policy stability to debating what's considered clean in Trump’s “all-of-the-above” approach to aging infrastructure, data centers, and demand, affordability emerged as the unifying priority.
What does all this mean? It's time to refocus. Energy affordability is no longer a side discussion as it relates to policy pivots and grid reliability; it’s the central theme uniting these issues. This broader conversation invites more voices than we've seen in recent months. Capitalize by identifying your unique POV on energy affordability and understanding how that translates to other key topics, like energy security, increasing demand/reliability, innovation, and collaboration, to spark meaningful dialogue and stand out. Also, carefully consider the impacts of your owned news and announcements, as any that could increase rates and affect consumers’ wallets are more likely to face scrutiny.
Tariff coverage surged to more than 700 mentions as updates and announcements continued. Similar results are expected next month as additional tariffs continue with anticipated updates on reciprocal tariffs. With the shifting energy industry, a new term joined the list, “market,” with coverage focused on changes in energy costs, steady demand for new clean energy projects, and shifting energy policies from the Trump administration.
Oil and Gas continued to lead SOV in March, though both saw slight dips as conversations around Trump’s O&G support fade. Notably, Solar rose 3%, driven by project news, marking a returning interest in project developments that are sizeable and represent unique, interesting partnerships. Nuclear spiked after Amazon, Google, and Meta pledged to triple global nuclear capacity by 2050, highlighting the impact of corporate pledges — a trend likely to continue as major companies address rising demand and the need for reliable power.
The energy trade conversation has stayed relatively steady over the past few months and has not fluctuated or turned political the way overall energy news coverage has shifted. However, there has been some coverage of Trump’s policies and tariffs as they relate to energy-specific projects, like nuclear, solar, and wind. The term “capacity” joined the list in relation to the capacity of renewable projects like wind and solar, as well as power grid capacity.
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Discussions on energy surged, with "Power" up 93% MoM, highlighting electric grid fragility amid rising tech demands. "World" increased 122% MoM, while "Government" entered the conversation, reflecting energy’s role in national security and global politics. "Trump" became a top keyword, as his tariffs were viewed as a tactic to influence energy markets, impacting domestic consumers and international supply chains.
Energy-related discussions saw notable shifts this month. #AusPol rose 15% MoM, with critiques of Peter Dutton’s energy policies, particularly on nuclear energy and the gas reservation scheme. #CleanEnergy increased 48% MoM, reflecting growing investments in sustainable technologies and renewable energy. Meanwhile, #Oil gained traction as #Nuclear declined, with conversations focusing on President Trump's support for oil and gas, including expanded drilling in federal lands and waters.
VP, Comms
Director, Content
Director, Digital
Senior Associate
Senior Manager, Energy Comms
Senior Manager, Energy Comms