Solar Protectionism Is Anything But Sunny

Originally published at RealClearEnergy

Bipartisanship is supposed to be sunny, but at the October 1 vice-presidential debate, it took a dark turn. J.D. Vance and Tim Walz both endorsed boosting solar panel production in the United States. The only way to achieve that goal is through massive protectionism, including costly taxpayer subsidies and tariffs. Even then, Americans would throw more money at a failing industry and pay more for less reliable power.

Vance and Walz backed U.S. solar manufacturing out of obvious political calculation. Vance and Donald Trump get to appear moderate on energy while appealing to working-class voters in the upper Midwest with the promise of more factory jobs. Walz and Kamala Harris also want to appeal to those workers while alleviating widespread regional concerns about her earlier promise to ban fracking. The current vice president and her running mate also want to turn out progressive environmentalists who fervently believe solar power can save the world from climate change.

Read more at RealClearEnergy