In an interview with Reuters, Kevin Cronin, CEO of MUFG Americas, the Americas arm of Japan’s largest banking group, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, stated that the shift towards renewable energy in the U.S. will continue under the incoming administration of Donald Trump. Despite Trump’s anti-renewables rhetoric, Cronin emphasized that the bank’s strategy remains unchanged.
Cronin noted that projects in the renewable energy sector take several years to plan, finance, and build, and the bank does not base its strategy on factors beyond its control. He also mentioned that the bank has received a boost from the infrastructure and renewables projects under President Joe Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act. However, Cronin believes that the real growth lies in the soaring energy demand from data centers that power artificial intelligence.
According to Cronin, data center capacity is expected to double by 2030, and securing reliable power is becoming a crucial factor in data center location. To meet this demand, MUFG has adopted a flexible approach that incorporates both renewables and fossil fuels. This is particularly important as different states have different rules around the financing of renewable and non-renewable energy projects.
MUFG has been a leader in project finance loan volume in America for 14 consecutive years, with a strong focus on financing renewable energy projects. Despite selling its U.S. retail banking arm in 2022, the U.S. business still accounts for almost 30% of the group’s total profits in the year to March 2024.
Masatoshi Komoriya, chairman of the board at MUFG’s Americas subsidiary, also highlighted the bank’s efforts to strengthen its mid-market offerings in areas of competitive advantage, such as technology. The bank has already hired around 30 people from Silicon Valley Bank, which collapsed in 2023, and is actively increasing its personnel.
Cronin believes that the bank now has a more balanced platform than it did 10 years ago, with a focus on wholesale banking and markets. This shift in focus has allowed the bank to adapt to the changing market and remain competitive.
The potential impact of this news is significant, as it highlights the continued growth and importance of renewable energy in the U.S. Despite the change in administration, the shift towards renewable energy is expected to continue, providing opportunities for companies like MUFG to finance and invest in these projects. Additionally, the bank’s focus on data centers and technology reflects the growing demand for these industries and their impact on the economy. Overall, this news showcases the bank’s strong position in the market and its ability to adapt to changing trends.