Fast Company:  Trump is coming for renewable energy—but the solar industry isn’t worried

By Kristin Toussaint

Solar industry experts say it has too much Republican support, and makes so much sense economically, that the solar industry will keep growing.

President Donald Trump has been clear that his vision for America’s energy landscape prioritizes fossil fuels. He has curtailed federal funds for renewable energy—and has voiced his personal distaste for those projects, particularly wind farms. He’s talked about ramping up coal and increasing oil drilling, and he’s threatened to completely undo the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).

But even amid all that, the solar industry is still somewhat optimistic about its future. Solar just makes sense, industry players say—especially if we need to increase our energy production, and do so fast.

“I keep on reminding people that solar energy is as competitive as natural gas now, it’s as cheap as any form of energy, and it can be built quicker than any form of energy.”

says George Strobel, cofounder and co-CEO of Monarch Private Capital, which invests in renewable energy and affordable-housing projects.

“There is some surprising support—at least as far as the [Trump] administration is concerned—for the solar industry, coming from the utility sector.”