October 12, 2017 | By RGR Marketing Blog

What Is President Trump’s Energy Policy?

Nearly ten months into President Trump’s tenure and his administration still hasn’t addressed where he stands on energy policy. In many ways, his views on energy are similar to his views of just about everything else. In other words, it changes by the day.

It is no surprise that Donald Trump has long been a critic of solar in the past. He was outspoken against renewable energy during his campaign, when he mocked it and made restoring the coal industry a primary pledge. He aimed to keep that pledge in March by signing an executive order to eliminate the coal regulations and the ban on federal leasing for coal production that former President Obama put in place. He also chose to pull out of the Paris Climate Agreement and proposed cutting the budget for renewable energy research at the Department of Energy.

But then, in August, the President suggested that the Mexico border wall that he also pledged during the campaign could be outfitted with solar panels to help offset the cost of constructing it. So, is the new President for or against solar? At this time, it really is anyone’s guess, but there are some things we do know about President Trump and the solar industry.

Solar Is on the Rise, Despite President Trump’s Erratic Energy Beliefs

Despite the President’s lack of official commitment to solar, the industry continues to grow for one key reason – solar projects are economically driven, not policy-driven. It is everyday people who are making conscious decisions to switch to solar, and while federal support does increase the likelihood of someone going solar, it is not the sole reason.

Consumers understand that the nation’s electrical grid is not only a major producer of destructive emissions, but it’s also antiquated and at tremendous risk of failing in the event the country experiences a devastating EMP event. The fact that solar prices are at an all-time low is also a primary factor in the success of the industry.

Trade Decision Could Hurt the Solar Industry

Since the solar industry took off, a lot of the reductions in cost have come from using affordable solar panels imported from China. But, two American manufacturers recently complained to the U.S. International Trade Commission that the low-cost imports were hurting their businesses. This complaint played right into President Trump’s “America First” agenda, and his decision to penalize Chinese solar panel manufacturers could have a dramatic impact on the entire solar industry.

The White House praised the American solar panel manufacturers saying, “The domestic solar manufacturing sector contributes to our energy security and economic prosperity,” but also that the President would make his decision on the import tariffs based on what reflects the best interests of the United States. Should he impose the penalties, it could be a big blow to the surging solar industry and a reaffirmation of his support to his friends in the coal industry.

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