Conservatives in My Party Stifled Clean Energy — It's Time to Revive It

A New Vision for Renewable Energy in America

For decades, conservatives have championed the idea that renewable energy strengthens American energy independence. However, there is a growing disconnect between this principle and the current political climate. What was once seen as a path to freedom from foreign oil is now being met with skepticism by those who previously supported it. This shift has created a challenging environment for the renewable energy industry.

As a lifelong Republican, I have had the opportunity to testify before Congress on multiple occasions, advocating for clean energy reforms. Many of my fellow conservatives have sought to stifle the U.S. renewables industry, even though wind and gas turbines are largely made in America. The industry itself is not without fault; it has sometimes aligned too closely with progressive climate politics, which has alienated many on the right.

Political Miscalculation

In 2020, over 80% of Republicans supported wind and solar energy. By 2025, this number had dropped to around 60%. This decline can be attributed to a miscalculation on the part of renewable advocates, who became too closely associated with progressive climate politics. As a result, the industry, once embraced by all, has become a left-wing cause, pushing away many conservatives.

MAGA activists have found a new enemy, turning "green energy" into an object of scorn. Republican officials who once welcomed renewable projects in their districts now echo anti-renewable talking points. Despite the fact that 70% of U.S. wind power is generated in red states, including Texas, which gets nearly 30% of its electricity from wind, wind energy has become a pariah among the GOP base.

Market Opportunity

Dramatically rising electricity demand, driven by AI and electrification, may accomplish what politics hasn't: make clean energy indispensable. Traditional sources cannot scale fast enough. New nuclear and coal plants take decades, and even natural gas cannot ramp up quickly enough to meet near-term demand.

In contrast, wind, solar, and battery installations can be built in a fraction of the time. Renewables provide zero-marginal-cost power, and a White House study warns that if we fail to add cheap capacity, AI-driven demand could send electricity prices soaring by 2030. In short, renewables are no longer just about climate virtue; they’re essential for keeping the lights on and energy bills low.

Conservative Reframe

To win back conservatives, renewable advocates must recast their message around freedom, security, and free enterprise—values that clean energy can champion.

Freedom: Conservatives value personal liberty, which should include the freedom to generate your own power—a right already exercised by ordinary homeowners, not just elites.

Security: Domestic renewable energy is a fortress against foreign threats. Solar panels generate power for decades, with only clouds and nightfall to worry about. Wind turbines can run for 25 years, and their components are largely U.S.-made. Once installed, no adversary can shut off the supply of sun or wind.

Free Enterprise: Renewable energy often undercuts fossil fuels on cost. With federal clean energy tax credits expiring in 2027, the playing field will soon level. Policies that block renewables aren’t “pro-market” if wind and solar are cheaper, let them compete. Far from being a Trojan horse for big government, clean energy exemplifies free enterprise at its best.

Path Forward

The clean energy sector is entering a make-or-break period. Federal tax credits expire in 2027, leaving a two-year window to build as much capacity as possible while incentives last. This looming deadline has triggered a blitz of development, compressing years of growth into a sprint. Losing subsidies will hurt, but it's also an opportunity for the industry to prove itself by slashing costs and innovating to compete.

Electricity prices have jumped 13% nationwide since 2022, due in part to a lack of cheap supply—not because of “too much” renewable energy as some claim. Each utility rate hike only makes solar panels and batteries more appealing. If suppliers seize this moment to scale up and drive costs down, they can thrive on merit rather than mandates.

Conclusion

America’s energy future shouldn’t be a partisan battlefield. Our prosperity and security depend on abundant, affordable power from every source, including clean energy. Clean energy isn’t a progressive scam—it’s just plain energy, and it happens to align with conservative values. Let’s end the energy culture war and let free markets fuel the next era of growth so that America wins.