Why Red States Like New Energy

The U.S. solar industry's new growth region: Trump country

Nichola Groom, October 12, 2017 (Reuters)

“…[T]he solar power industry is booming across Trump country, fueled by falling development costs and [federal tax incentives], which many Republicans in Congress continue to support…[E]ight of the 10 fastest-growing U.S. solar markets between the second quarters of 2016 and 2017 were Western, Midwestern or Southern states that voted for Trump, with Alabama and Mississippi topping the list. And solar firms are ramping up investments in these regions…[This] illustrates the complexity of green power politics in Washington and casts doubt on whether the administration can boost the coal and nuclear sectors while subsidies continue to the fuel growth of competing wind and solar…With falling development costs, solar firms now see strong prospects [even in conservative states with New Energy mandates]…The estimated costs of solar power generation have dropped 85 percent since 2009, making its unsubsidized cost competitive with natural gas in the sunniest locations…Solar and wind energy firms have become important constituents in some Republican-led states because they employ about 300,000 people nationwide - six times the number working in the coal industry…[This] directly undermines Trump’s goal of boosting the coal industry…” click here for more

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