BlackRock Analysts: Middle East Conflict and AI Wave Fuel 'Green Energy' Awakening

GateUser-bd883c58 · 2026-03-17T12:35:55+00:00

BlackRock International Chief Investment Officer Helen Jewell believes that clean energy stocks will continue to rise as Middle East conflicts have exposed global dependence on oil and gas. She noted that for AI to succeed, clean energy and traditional energy must coexist. Over the past year, the clean energy transition index has risen 61%, significantly outperforming the S&P 500 and oil stocks.

GateUser-bd883c58

2026-03-17 12:35:55

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Source: Jin10 Data

On March 13, after Trump returned to the White House last year, betting on clean energy stocks seemed like a foolish move. But for Helen Jewell, Chief Investment Officer of the Fundamental Stock Business at BlackRock International, the rally in clean energy is expected to continue because the U.S.-led Middle East conflict serves as a brutal reminder of 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 power generation. Given that the national grid needs rapid, secure incremental capacity, clean energy stocks can continue to strengthen.”

Jewell stated, “We are very clear that in order for AI to succeed, you need such enormous energy that the story is no longer ‘replacing traditional energy,’ but ‘coexisting with traditional energy.’” One year later: as of Wednesday’s close, the S&P Global Clean Energy Transition Index has surged 61%, far outperforming the 23% gain of the S&P 500. It also outperformed the “Big Seven” by 39% and is nearly twice the increase of oil stocks—despite oil prices rising above $100 due to the Iran conflict.

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