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Red States Are Driving America's Solar Boom Despite Trump's Opposition(oilprice.com)
12 points by PaulHoule 2 days ago | 9 comments
GenerWork 2 days ago | parent | next [-]

I realize Trump is being used as a hook here, but isn't the real story the fact that at this point solar is completely viable to build without federal subsidies? As the article notes, the OBBB axed a lot of solar subsidies, yet 73% of all new solar last year was installed in states that voted for Trump, which probably don't have solar friendly subsidies.

dlcarrier 2 days ago | parent | next [-]

I live off-grid in California, and pretty much every time I've evaluated options for something that would save energy, I've been better off by forgoing the subsidized option. It can be difficult to motivate behavior as intended through subsidizing, especially in a quickly changing field. If I were naïve and assumed that the subsidized products would always save me energy usage, I would be spending more money and saving less energy.

When a state is against subsidizing, but not against what is being subsidized, it can be more beneficial than an inefficient subsidy.

ZeroGravitas 2 days ago | parent | prev | next [-]

I think solar starting construction before July 2026 or completed before 2027 still got the old federal subsidies. Residential cut off was the end of last year.

So we don't know exactly how things will look after subsidies and there will have been a pull forward effect before the various deadlines.

PaulHoule 2 days ago | parent | prev [-]

Texas is a leader in renewables for the same reason it is a leader in oil and gas.

curio_Pol_curio 2 days ago | parent | next [-]

https://www.conservativetexansforenergyinnovation.org/how-te...

operatingthetan 2 days ago | parent [-]

that's a hell of a domain name

PaulHoule 2 days ago | parent [-]

I bet they rank for "conservative texans for energy innovation" but if they were serious about that they'd put that in text in an <h1>.

ZeroGravitas 2 days ago | parent | prev [-]

Lots of subsidies?

tim-tday 2 days ago | parent | prev [-]

His war on Iran is going to make renewables twice as cost effective and since solar also provides autonomy 5x more desirable. Nobody can fuck with your power if you make your own.