Trump Voters Support Solar Energy Expansion
A recent poll from Kellyanne Conway, a former adviser to President Trump, indicates significant backing from Trump supporters for boosting solar energy production as a means to enhance the nation’s power supply.
The survey, conducted by KAConsulting, LLC for American Energy First, questioned 1,000 registered voters across Arizona, Florida, Indiana, Ohio, and Texas. The findings reveal that 83 percent of respondents and 75 percent of Trump supporters believe solar energy should be utilized to strengthen America’s energy resources. According to the survey memo, “Solar energy is widespread, durable, and has increasingly strong public support.”
When it comes to energy, affordability and availability are major worries. About 61 percent of participants expressed concern that their state doesn’t have enough electricity for homes, businesses, educational institutions, and medical facilities. Meanwhile, 69 percent were apprehensive about their local electricity bills, with 34 percent stating they were very concerned. Most respondents (56 percent) viewed economic challenges like inflation and cost of living as the primary issues facing the country, while 22 percent focused on security matters and 14 percent on social issues such as healthcare and childcare.
The poll suggests that energy source attitudes aren’t as polarized as one might think. Instead, voters seem to prefer practical solutions, seeking increased energy diversity. Solar energy earned a favorable score of 73 percent overall, with support from 62 percent of Trump voters, 75 percent of independents, and 90 percent of Democrats. Natural gas also received a favorable rating of 73 percent, attracting 83 percent of Trump supporters, 69 percent of independents, and 65 percent of Democrats.
Moreover, 80 percent of Trump voters indicated they would be more open to expanding solar power if they knew its components were manufactured in the U.S., mitigating security risks from countries like China.
Interestingly, voter concern visibly escalates when faced with specific facts about the energy situation. For instance, 72 percent reported heightened anxiety knowing that China generates approximately 150 percent more electricity than the U.S. Worries about rising electricity costs impacted 85 percent of respondents, while concerns about blackouts, expert warnings, and an aging energy infrastructure also resonated strongly, with 83 percent each. The memo concludes that voters view energy scarcity as an economic and strategic liability.
These insights come amid discussions on solar manufacturing, domestic supply chains, and competitive pressures from China at a recent policy event hosted by Breitbart News.
T1 Energy CEO Dan Barcelo commented that American-made solar power could enhance energy affordability and promote domestic manufacturing. He mentioned that there’s no need to import solar panels from China when they can be produced in the United States, particularly in Texas.
Barcelo elaborated on the rapid advancement in solar energy and its potential impact on electricity costs once integrated into the grid. He highlighted solar’s advantage of having a zero marginal cost when connected to the grid. Citing last week’s figures, he noted that at noon, about half of Texas’s grid was powered by solar energy.
Furthermore, Barceló emphasized the need for the U.S. to exceed China’s solar manufacturing capacity. With the U.S. currently at just over 50 gigawatts compared to China’s more than 1,000 gigawatts, he framed this goal as part of a larger effort to restore American energy leadership. “America was not the world’s No. 1 oil producer; it was Saudi Arabia. Now it is America. There’s no reason for China to remain the world’s No. 1 solar power producer. America will get there one day,” he stated.
