Politicization of US Energy | Energy Central

Canary Media: “Chart: Most Americans support expanding solar and wind power.” These data are from May of this year [note independents were not included in the compilation], so I wonder how the recent campaign + election might have changed these numbers. “Solar and wind power are more popular among Americans than nuclear power or fossil fuels, according to a May survey from Pew Research Center.” But Republican support has fallen over the last 8 yrs, though over the course of 2024, ’80 percent of Republicans aged 18–29 said the U.S. should build more solar and 75 percent said more wind power is a good idea, up from 77 percent and 71 percent in 2023, respectively.’ Regardless of these trend lines, “most Republicans still support expanding solar and wind development…several GOP-controlled states—including Texas, Florida, Iowa, and Oklahoma—are among the nation’s leaders in solar and wind generation.” Republicans have grown commensurately fonder of fossil fuels, especially fracking + offshore drillng. “The parties are most aligned when it comes to expanding nuclear power…it’s one of the few topics on which the divided U.S. Congress has found common ground in recent years; a bipartisan law to streamline nuclear regulations passed this summer.” Ironically, if ‘Trump decide to gut or erode the Inflation Reduction Act—something he promised to do on the campaign trail—it could slow the development of not only solar and wind but nuclear energy too. All I can say, is be careful what you ask for.