Nicholas Hartnett, owner of Pure Power Solar, secures solar panel on the roof of a home in Frankfort, Ky., on Monday, July 17, 2023.Elon Musk recently implored utility executives to build power plants faster because he expects demand for electricity to double or triple during the next 20 years. Others from across the political spectrum are singing the same tune. Environmental groups are calling for similar growth rates of clean power to mitigate climate change. And last month, Texas Gov.
In Texas, for instance, some lawmakers tried to essentially outlaw new renewables development, but a coalition of rural Republicans and urban Democrats killed those bills. However, punitive fees on electric vehicle registrations and tax credits for new fossil energy development that explicitly excluded renewables were passed, so even in energy-friendly Texas, political leaders were able to land a few punches on the clean energy industry even if they could not get a knockout blow.