Conservatives like me spent decades arguing that renewable energy strengthens American energy independence, yet those who once demanded freedom from foreign oil now bristle at homegrown solar and wind power.
I’m a lifelong Republican who has testified before Congress three times in favor of legislation to reform clean energy incentives. Many of my fellow conservatives have sought to suffocate the U.S. renewables industry in their pursuit of energy independence despite both wind and gas turbines being mostly made in America. The industry isn’t blameless: tying itself too tightly to a left-wing climate crusade alienated many on the right.
But surging electricity demand and market forces now offer the industry an opportunity for resurrection: reframe clean energy, not as eco-virtue signaling, but as a core component of U.S. competitiveness and independence.
Political miscalculation
Over 80% of my fellow Republicans supported wind and solar energy in 2020, but by 2025 that share has fallen to around 60%. The erosion of support was the result of a miscalculation: renewable advocates aligned too closely with progressive climate politics, turning an industry once embraced by all into a left-wing cause, alienating conservatives along the way.
MAGA activists found their bette noir, turning “green energy” into an object of scorn. Republican officials who once welcomed renewable projects in their districts now echo anti-renewable talking points. Although 70% of U.S. wind power is generated in red states (Texas alone 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 can’t scale fast enough: new nuclear and coal plants take decades, and even natural gas can’t 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 prize 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, and 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.
The opinions expressed in Fortune.com commentary pieces are solely the views of their authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and beliefs of Fortune.
