Republicans Support Solar… By Putting It On Their Roofs
Polls have long shown that both Republicans and Democrats love solar power. Everyone loves solar (okay, nearly everyone). But it’s one thing to say you support something and another thing to put that thing on your roof, right?
The good news is that some solar research in Arizona has found that Republican districts have installed more solar than Democratic ones.
In an email I received a few days ago, a representative of TUSK (Tell Utilities Solar won’t be Killed) wrote:
Although solar has long been considered a Democratic issue, solar installation locations in Arizona suggest that solar may be one thing people from both sides of the aisle can agree on. An analysis of where rooftop solar has been installed in Arizona, one of the country’s sunniest states, confirms that large numbers of Republicans are going solar. Of the 14 legislative districts with the most private rooftop solar customers, 12 of them are primarily represented by Republicans. The five legislative districts (22, 1, 13, 14, and 28) that have the most solar installed are all predominantly Republican in terms of legislative representation. Combined, those customers represent more than 15,000 solar households.
Pretty good news. And I wouldn’t be surprised if that was also the case in other states. The fact of the matter is, on the citizen level, solar power is a bi-partisan issue. The problem is with it becoming something Republican leaders in Congress and at the head of some state governments want to attack.
Unfortunately, Arizona is one of the states where solar is under attack. These new findings are now being used by TUSK and the Arizona Solar Energy Industries Association to defend solar from those attacks. “This data sends a powerful message to our conservative elected officials that killing solar energy will not be tolerated by those right of center,” TUSK Chairman Barry Goldwater Jr. said.
“When 18 out of 30 legislative districts represented by Republicans or majority Republicans accounts for 77% of the installed solar in the state, this can only mean conservatives believe in the value and benefit of solar to their homes, businesses and bottom lines. They’re seeing solar as a good thing worth investing in.”
It’s true. Let’s share the word!
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About the Author
Zach is the director of CleanTechnica, the most popular cleantech-focused website in the world, and Planetsave, a world-leading green and science news site. He has been covering green news of various sorts since 2008, and he has been especially focused on solar energy, electric vehicles, and wind energy since 2009. Aside from his work on CleanTechnica and Planetsave, he's the founder and director of Solar Love, EV Obsession, and Bikocity. To connect with Zach on some of your favorite social networks, go to ZacharyShahan.com and click on the relevant buttons.
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