Red states are the ones going green and winning the clean energy race
Here’s a fact that might surprise some people — in the United States, the majority of clean power comes from red states.
Political stereotypes would have us believe that blue states are responsible for most renewable energy. But red states — guided by leaders who believe in capitalism and the free market — understand that investing in solar, wind and battery storage is just as smart as supporting oil and natural gas.
As a former governor, I learned that when it comes to energy, government should step back. Politicians may generate hot air, but the market is best at generating power. We must ensure consumers have access to reliable energy choices — whether that’s gasoline, natural gas, or renewable sources like solar.
Instead of the government choosing winners and losers, elected leaders should ensure that consumers have access to the energy choices they prefer, whatever those might be.
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For instance, some Americans prefer to fill their cars with gasoline and rely on natural gas for heating. Others might choose to plug in their electric vehicles at night and install solar panels on their roof to augment their home energy consumption.
Americans want choices and are embracing a mix of energy sources to meet their needs. The Biden administration’s approach, favoring government intervention, threatened the very innovations that lead to affordable energy solutions. Under the Trump administration, we championed the idea that competition drives innovation while keeping prices low.
The Biden administration saw big government as the answer to everything, subsidizing energy alternatives and attempting to phase out some of our most effective and affordable energy options.
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The Trump administration, by contrast, understands that capitalism and the free market operate on a very basic but effective idea — competition allows innovation while keeping prices low.
As the former governor of Arizona, I know from experience that the individual states know their turf better than federal decisionmakers or bureaucrats ever will. Certain ideological members of Congress or D.C. regulators may assume that they know best, but they oftentimes don’t. Sometimes, the cheapest and most efficient energy source for one given state or locality is not the one anyone would expect — not even the people on the ground.
Arizona has become a leader in affordable solar energy, leveraging our abundant sunshine. One report indicates that "red states are leading the way on solar," with nearly three-quarters of new installations occurring in states that supported President Donald Trump in the 2024 election.
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Are renewables the optimal choice for every area of the country? No, but they are increasingly becoming cost-effective and efficient options for many parts of it, like my home state of Arizona, which gets very affordable solar energy due to how much sun it receives weekly.
The federal government should be encouraging the states to explore, innovate and optimize their own energy policies; it shouldn’t be getting in the way.
That doesn’t mean D.C. should sit back and do nothing when it comes to energy policy. It should always be working to ensure the country’s energy security. That’s exactly what it’s doing under President Donald Trump’s leadership.
For instance, in March, the House Committee on Energy and Commerce passed two important bills designed to protect our energy security. One, the Energy Emergency Leadership Act, structures the Department of Energy’s leadership to ensure it can respond to disruptions in the energy supply. The other, the Energy Threat Analysis Center Reauthorization Act, strengthens the Energy Department’s ability to counter cybersecurity threats.
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This is precisely what the government should be doing: guaranteeing America's energy security. But threats come in different forms, including in the arena of global competition. And this is where it’s so important that the federal government allow the states to take an all-of-the-above approach to energy supply and allow them to make their own energy decisions on the local level.
Right now, China is moving full steam ahead in developing alternative energy sources. While it’s not abandoning traditional energy, the country is "undergoing one of the most ambitious energy transitions in history," according to a report from the World Economic Forum. "Guided by its goals of peaking carbon emissions before 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2060, the country is rapidly reshaping its power system to accommodate a new generation of clean energy."
China is aggressively advancing its clean energy capabilities, aiming for carbon neutrality by 2060. We cannot afford to relinquish our technological edge to our biggest economic rival.
It’s time for Democrats and Republicans to stop using energy as a political weapon. We need an all-of-the-above approach that empowers consumers and ensures reliable, affordable energy aligns with free market principles. Let’s work together to secure a prosperous energy future for all Americans.