Conservationists Advocate for Government to Collaborate, rather Than Oppose, Renewable Energy

In a downtown Cleveland conference hall last week, the National Conservative Energy Summit brought together hundreds of business people, policy analysts, and conservative advocates. The mission of the Conservative Energy Network, organisers of the summit, is to champion secure, reliable, affordable, and clean American energy.

The event comes at a time when state and local laws that restrict renewable energy development are gaining steam nationwide. Approximately 30 counties in Ohio ban solar or wind energy in all or parts of their territories, an authority granted to them by a 2021 law known as Senate Bill 52. In recent years, the Ohio government has implemented measures such as rolling back renewable energy standards, imposing restrictions on wind and solar projects, and supporting legislation that favors fossil fuel industries to hinder the development of renewable energy.

The Trump administration, too, has been a barrier to renewable energy development. The administration has promoted more fossil-fuel use, stalled the retirement of aging power plants, rescinded grants and loans for clean energy projects, and eliminated tax credits for wind, solar, electric vehicles (EVs), and home-energy upgrades. Construction on some offshore wind projects has been halted, and the administration has rescinded grants and loans for clean energy projects.

Despite these challenges, the Network supports a range of technologies including solar, wind, battery storage, hydrogen, biomass, and small modular nuclear reactors. John Szoka, CEO of the Conservative Energy Network, stated that conservatives can and should lead on energy. He encourages attendees to use their learning from the conference in grassroots efforts to build support for clean energy.

Jenifer French, chair of Ohio's Power Siting Board and its Public Utilities Commission, advises developers to communicate with local officials around the project and earn their trust. Drew Christensen, senior director of public engagement at utility-scale developer Apex Clean Energy, suggests that communicating with local officials is often used as a cop-out by companies.

The Ohio Power Siting Board or its staff have determined solar and wind projects are not in the public interest in several cases where bans didn't apply but where local governments unanimously opposed the proposals. A June report by the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law at Columbia University notes 16 states with laws limiting solar or wind, and over 450 counties and municipalities across more than 40 states imposing other restrictions.

As some states like Colorado and Maine are pushing to speed up deployment of renewable energy, the fight for clean energy continues. The National Conservative Energy Summit serves as a reminder that even within conservative circles, there is a growing recognition of the importance of renewable energy for a secure, sustainable future.

Conservationists Advocate for Government to Collaborate, rather Than Oppose, Renewable Energy