Seamus Fitzgerald hears a lot of opinions on photovoltaic power generation. As Deputy Director of Real Estate, a solar energy developer, oneENERGY RENEWABLES, he suggests that farmers and other landowners from the Midwest to rent their property for the solar project. Some land owners are pleased to be part of the transition to clean energy. Others are hostile to the idea of putting a shiny panel in their land.
Fitzgerald persuades many farmers by explaining the simple economy of renting the land for solar power. “At the end of the day, the financial payment of this type of project is generally higher than that people can escape their land through different types of crops.” In order to sell solar power to those who can hesitate, he often talks about what technology is. Invented in the United States. Fitzgerald said, “We are collecting US resources in the United States when we install a solar project.
It reflects how Donald Trump talks about energy, but he is praised for American oil and gas, not renewable energy. Nevertheless, Solar Energy Industries Association, the industry’s primary lobby group, has found many ways to meet the administration’s dialogue points. Now it pops out Crossing the siteThere is a new slogan next to the image of the American flag that floats on the solar panel. Earlier this month, the association participated Washington DC’s Robbie BlitzLawmakers urge to maintain tax deductions for clean energy projects.
Solar provision Almost 6 % Last year, it is an electricity production in the United States, but it is growing rapidly and is expected to be supplied.Almost all growthAccording to the pre -trump energy information management, electricity is generated this year. Many people want this technology to be widely popular among Americans. 78 % Supporting more solar farm development can escape Trump’s cultural war on climate change. With towering turbines, more solar energy than wind connects ideological divisions and appeals to environmentalists. Liberalists who “don’t go on stage” Like each other.
Abigail Ross Hopper, a solar energy industry, said, “President Trump said he liked solar heat, and as energy demand soar, we know that solar heat is the most efficient and inexpensive way to add a lot of energy to the grid. there is. The president and CEO of the Association is in the statement in the statement.
Her trade group was released in December. Policy roadmap This reflects Trump’s agenda and reflects priorities such as “removing dependence on China” and “cutting red tapes in the energy sector.” It is a change in the vision of the association It was deployed in 2020 HOPPER after former presidential election promise “Meet the moments of the climate with equality and justice at the forefront.”
The new language reflects the perception that there is no need to talk about climate change in order to develop clean technology among the federal priority and the solar advocates. Fitzgerald said, “I think that energy independence -screams on the roof. “All American politicians are trying to make these things to collect energy here.”
How to take out climate change in cultural war
Last year, Solar represented more 80 % New electricity generation capacity added to the American grid. But some predict slowing. Solar industrial stocks plummeted In November, after the election, after the election, investors speculated that Republicans could abolish tax deductions to the sun in the inflation reduction law, and BIDEN signed in January 2022. Report of Wood Mackenzie, a data analysis company “After the election, the installation of solar heat will be stagnant in many countries due to uncertainty, weak incentives, power reforms, and less ambitious climate agenda.
“The conclusion is all that increases market uncertainty for one of the fastest growing sectors in our economy, and nothing more important to business and investors than market clarity. Policy promotion for economy and environment.” Washington’s work is as clear as the DC’s snow purple at midnight. “
Trump has complained about the wind since then. The marine wind power complex threatened a clean view at the Golf Course in Scotland. Shortly after buying it in 2006, he stopped a new permit for wind projects for federal land and water in the office this year. But his administration’s position on the sun is unclear. “Big Pan” Technology. Keefe said, “I think they are more advantageous for the sun. But who knows? And who knows how long do you know? ”
The Trump administration’s attack on federal bureaucracy has already endangered the solar project. Despite the court’s order of financing, the administration has suspended federal subsidies for climatic programs, including Solar for All, a $ 7 billion program that brings housing solar to low -income areas. Sachu Constantine, a non -profit organization that works for photovoltaic power generation, said, “We are actually delayed in bringing out the door of a project that requires that money.
Michelle Roos, executive director of Environmental Protection Network, an alumni group of Environmental Protection Agency, said, “Michelle Roos) “I’m still trying to move forward,” the solar said.
Andy Buchanan / AFP through Getty Images
Some measures show that the cultural war began to infringe American opinions on the sun. Republican support for new solar farms between 2020 and 2024 Poll last year at the Pew Research Center. The wrong information campaign is increasing the idea that the sun and the wind cannot be trusted by taking the goal of clean energy. Stop the farmland and Timberland’s solar project.
According to Dustin Mulvaney, a professor of environmental research at San José State University, there are some reasons why people hesitate to do this technology, according to Dustin Mulvaney, who studies conflicts about photovoltaic power generation. People may be concerned about projects that take over major farmland, cut animal habitats, or affect Aboriginal cultural sites. Mulvaney said that careful plans could help to avoid this conflict. For example, solar farms can coexist with quantity. It can be built in a way to leave the space between the panels. To migrate pronoun nutritionAnd in general, “avoids precious areas in favor of developing projects.Shooting site“For example, like a fallen land.
Mulvaney argues that most projects are not faced with resistance at all, opposed to the fact that these concerns are slowing solar power. This is the utility of the United States To achieve a goal to convert to 100 % renewable energy by 2060He pointed out. “The fastest way to get me more solar heat is to require the utility to buy faster.”
No matter what Trump does, clean energy advocates hope that solar projects will continue to develop at the main level. “We feel good about the future of clean energy in the southeast,” said Mark Fleming, the president and CEO of Clean Energy Conservative Party, which works in Virginia, Carolina, Georgia, Florida and Louisiana. “We do not talk about it in terms of the environment. We talk about it in terms of economics in terms of choice and competition in the market because the price of the sun drastically decreases.” In the last decade, solar installation costs have been around 40 %. According to the Solar Energy Industry Association.
Constantine says that talking about the benefits of the sun through job creation, reduction of power outages, or cutting electricity prices is the key to overcoming hostility. Constantine said, “This is a way to reduce costs, and I think it’s a resonance message that the energy costs and the actual pinching are squeaked in this age. “People get it when talking about economics, elasticity and reliability.”
Naveena Sadasivam has reported to this story.
