In this episode of Good Energy, SEIA hosts Jeff Kupfer, President of ConservAmerica, an organization that is making the conservative case for solar energy. Beginning in the late 1990s as Republicans for Environmental Protection, ConservAmerica produces analyses and advocacy to help support the work of Congress. 

A public policy veteran with experience on Capitol Hill, Kupfer served as the Acting Deputy Secretary, Chief Operating Officer, and Chief of Staff of the Department of Energy during the George W. Bush Administration. He and the administration advocated for an “all-of-the-above" energy policy that would value both sustainability and energy security. He additionally worked in the private sector and in academia. He joined ConservAmerica during a time when energy and environmental issues were becoming hyper-politicized. 

Kupfer is prioritizing delivering facts to Republican Members of Congress as they juggle the many different facets of budget reconciliation. ConservAmerica partnered with the Brattle Group to forecast the consequences of repealing the existing clean energy tax credits. The report found that electricity demand is going to increase over the coming years, and a repealing of the tax credits would drive up household utility bills and lead to job losses. Kupfer believes the report to be a helpful addition to existing dialogue around energy policy, including on the ability of deploying existing sources of energy.  

As a conservative, Kupfer believes in market-based solutions and maintaining policy stability so that businesses can better plan for the future. Regardless of how the energy tax credits came into being, Kupfer cautions against taking the drastic step of repealing them, as businesses have already broken ground and hired new people thanks to the tax credits. He emphasizes the importance of giving policymakers all the data necessary to make policy decisions and concludes by mentioning the importance of bipartisanship to create long-term policy stability.  

From in-depth interviews with industry leaders to insightful discussions on the rapid growth of solar and storage in the United States, Good Energy connects you with the heartbeat of the solar industry. Whether you're a seasoned professional or just curious about the future of energy, tune in to stay informed and inspired about the bright future of solar. Listen to full episodes on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.