What Will President Trump Do About the Environment?
As solar installation and mortgage professionals, many of us are looking with great interest for clues as to how President Trump will handle issues related to climate, solar energy and the environment.
For starters, Trump’s choice for Energy Secretary, Rick Perry, has stated in the past that he thought the Department of Energy should be dismantled. Trump himself has offered very differing opinions on climate change. As promoters of solar energy, it’s important to know where the incoming President stands on climate and energy issues. So what do we know about President Trump’s position on these matters?
Fortunately, or perhaps unfortunately, we know a lot about President Trump’s thought processes due to his various social media posts, especially on Twitter. Here’s what Trump has said on the matter of climate change in the recent past.
Trump on Climate Change Then
In 2012, Donald Trump said on Twitter: “The concept of global warming was created by and for the Chinese in order to make U.S. manufacturing non-competitive.” This suggestion by Trump that climate change is a Chinese hoax has oft been repeated by detractors, and could signal a great deal of skepticism and disbelief on the issue from the incoming cabinet.
Trump on Climate Change Before the Election
Trump responded to comments about this tweet by saying it was a joke. However, his position still does not seem to have changed that much. According to Politifact, on the Fox & Friends program about a year ago, Trump said:
“Well, I think the climate change is just a very, very expensive form of tax. A lot of people are making a lot of money. I know much about climate change. I'd be — received environmental awards. And I often joke that this is done for the benefit of China. Obviously, I joke. But this is done for the benefit of China, because China does not do anything to help climate change. They burn everything you could burn; they couldn't care less. They have very — you know, their standards are nothing. But they — in the meantime, they can undercut us on price. So, it's very hard on our business."
Trump has also called global warming a money making hoax several times, both on and off of Twitter. Politifact also points out that In 2015 on CNN’s New Day, Trump said flat out, “I don’t believe in climate change.”
President Trump on Climate Change
Since being elected President, Trump seems to have softened his anti-climate change position somewhat. According to TheAtlantic.com, when meeting with The New York Times, Donald Trump stated in late November, 2016, that “I think there is some connectivity” between humans and the changing climate. He has also said he is keeping “an open mind” on the issue.
It’s very likely that before running for President, and perhaps even before being sworn in, Donald Trump has done very little to educate himself on what climate change is, how it works, and how it affects our environment. As President, one must assume he will be forced to learn more about this issue.
If the past is any indication, it seems likely that President Trump’s actions with respect to energy policy will be pro-business first, with concerns about cleaner energy solutions being secondary. However, this does not necessarily mean bad things for the renewable energy industry.
The fact is that in some states, clean power is already cheaper than coal or gas, and innovators like Elon Musk are searching for ways to make solar power and other clean energy alternatives even more cost-effective in the future.
What the Future May Hold for Solar Power Seems… Uncertain?
While it will certainly be very important to keep an eye on President Trump and his forthcoming statements and actions regarding climate change, solar power, and renewable energy sources in general, there is not too much reason to believe that there is anything to fear, even given Trump’s history of skepticism about climate change.
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