Conservatives like me have argued for decades that renewable energies strengthen the independence of American energy, but those who once demanded freedom of foreign oil now have native solar and wind power.
I am a lifelong republican who has Said before the congress Three times in favor of the legislation for the reform of clean energy incentives. Many of my conservatives have tried to suffocate the US renewable energy industry in its persecution of energy independence, although both wind and gas turbines were mainly produced in America. The industry is not blameless: to bind too firmly to a left -wing climate cross, which has alienated many on the right.
But increasing electricity requirements and market forces now offer the industry the opportunity to resurrection: clean the clean energy, not as an environmental signal transmission, but as a core component of US competitivity and independence.
Political misjudgment
Over 80% of my Republicans supported wind and solar energy in 2020, but by 2025 this proportion fell to around 60%. The support of the support was the result of a misjudgment: renewable supporters who were too closely geared towards progressive climate policy and transformed an industry that was once converted into a left -wing thing by everyone and alienated conservatives on the way.
Maga activists found their beds noir and transformed “green energy” into an object of contempt. Republican civil servants who once welcomed renewable projects in their districts are now repeating anti-renewable topics. Although 70% of the US wind power are generated in Red States (almost 30% of its electricity is made of wind in Texas alone), wind energy has become a pariah in the GOP basis.
Market chance
The dramatically increasing electricity requirement driven by AI and electrification can achieve what politics has: to make clean energy indispensable. Traditional sources cannot scale quickly enough: new core and coal-fired power plants take decades, and even natural gas cannot increase quickly enough to satisfy short-term demand.
In contrast, wind, solar and battery installations can be installed in a fraction of the time. Renewable energies deliver zero marginal cost stream, and a study by the White House warns that the AI-controlled demand could no longer increase electricity prices by 2030. In short, renewable energies are no longer just on climate. They are essential to keep the lights and energy costs low.
Conservative male
In order to regain conservatives, renewable lawyers have to reorganize their message about freedom, security and free companies – values that Clean Energy can use.
Freedom: The conservative appreciation of personal freedom that should contain freedom to generate their own power – a right that has already been exercised by normal homeowners, not only by elites.
Security: Domestic renewable energies are a fortress against foreign threats: solar modules generate electricity for decades, whereby only clouds and darkness have to worry. Wind turbines can run for 25 years and their components are largely in the United States. After installation, no opponent can switch off the supply of sun or wind.
Free Enterprise: Renewable energies often undermine fossil fuels in costs, and since the federal tax for clean energy expires in 2027, the competitive area will shortly become a level. Guidelines that block-renewable energies are not “pro-market” as wind and solar are cheaper, let them compete. Clean Energy is far from being a Trojan horse for the great government and illustrates the free company from its best.
Way forward
The clean energy sector runs into a make-or break time: federal tax credits expire in 2027 and leave a two-year window as much capacity as possible while the incentives last. This threatening period has triggered a flash of development and summarized years of growth in a sprint. Losing subsidies will harm, but it is also an opportunity for the industry to prove yourself by reducing the costs and being innovative to compete.
Electricity prices have risen by 13% nationwide since 2022, which is partly due to a lack of cheap offer – not due to “too much” renewable energies, like some claims. Each Utility rate increase only makes solar modules and batteries more attractive. If suppliers use this moment to scale and increase the costs, they can thrive rather than mandates.
Diploma
America’s energy future should not be a partisan battlefield. Our prosperity and security depend on every source, including clean energy, from plenty to affordable electricity. Clean Energy is not a progressive fraud – it is just energy and accidentally fits with conservative values. Let us end the energy culture war and fuel the free markets in the next era of growth so that America wins.
The opinions that were expressed in Fortune.com comments are exclusively the views of their authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and beliefs of against Assets.
