Why Conservatives Are Speaking Up About Solar

Despite rhetoric often making energy policy look hyper-partisan, conservatives in America are coming out of the woodwork in favor of expanding solar energy generation. Heather Reams leads Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions (CRES), a center-right organization that engages Republicans on clean energy at the federal level. She joins Good Energy as a long-time conservative advocate for solar energy to make the conservative case for solar and provide insight for what the rest of 2026 holds for energy politics.

Looking at 2026, Reams acknowledges that energy is a major issue and should be one seen as “red, white, and blue” instead of through a “red vs. blue” partisan lens. With rising prices affecting voters’ pocketbooks, she believes that adding every electron possible onto the grid makes sense. While policy often takes a long time generate benefits, the speed at which solar can build allows it to be an unusually quick solution to rising power demands.

American Conservatives Are Expressing their Support for Solar

Recent polling has shown broad support among conservatives for building more solar capacity in the United States, including from noted pollster Kellyanne Conway. Reams notes that conservatives are coming to support solar because they understand it and are seeing it in their communities. In 2025, two-thirds of new solar capacity installed in the United States came in states President Trump won the previous year. She explains how people’s on-the-ground experience with solar, such as on the rooftops of their churches or their neighbor’s homes, helps brings people around to it.

Reams sees the recent influx of support for solar from prominent conservatives like Newt Gingrich and Katie Miller as a method of paving the way for the Trump Administration to strengthen its own solar policies.

Permitting Reform

Reams believes that the ultimate result of current federal permitting reform discussions on Capitol Hill will be a grand bargain motivated by a broad agreement from both sides that something needs to change. The timing of passing permitting reform is more uncertain and could happen either before or after Election Day in November.

Discussing why permitting reform is needed, Reams emphasizes that legislation cannot wait until a crisis happens to be enacted. Whether permitting reform passes in one bill or through a series of skinny bills, something has to be done.

Midterm Election Preview

If permitting reform is not passed in the lead-up to the midterm elections, Reams sees the message of removing red tape as a winning election issue. Looking more broadly at the midterms, Reams is glad to see that voters are seeing energy as the backbone of America and will play a central role in campaign rhetoric.

In addition to being viewed positively for environmental reasons, renewable energy’s economic benefits are also becoming increasingly noticed. She believes in meeting voters where they are, with potential skepticisms of solar, in having conversations about an all-of-the-above energy policy and showing how different energy sources work best in different regions.

About Good Energy

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.