The War On Solar and Renewable Energy

About the Series

This DeSmog investigative series covers the various attacks on solar energy and other renewable energy sources that have faced attacks and misinformation campaigns launched by fossil fuel interests, electric utilities and other vested interests who don’t want decentralized energy to take hold in the United States and elsewhere.

Examples of these “war on solar” attacks include state-level lobbying and legislative efforts to undermine rooftop solar access to the grid, net metering, production tax credits, renewable portfolio standards and other policy solutions designed to expand public interest in democratized electricity distribution and access.

The war on solar has been launched by groups including the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), the Koch Brothers, Duke Energy, the Heartland Institute and other fossil fuel interests and front groups. High-profile individuals involved directly or indirectly in waging this war on solar include Warren Buffett, Bjorn Lomborg, Matt Ridley, Robert Bryce, Steve Milloy and others.

If you have tips, suggestions or questions about this DeSmog series, please contact us. 

Image credit: Shutterstock.

In This Series

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On November 8, an already endangered rooftop solar industry took a big hit in Arizona. Three Republican candidates for the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) — backed by millions of dollars from ...
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On September 20, Duke Energy announced a $300,000 investment to install solar panel systems at up to 10 North Carolina schools. Numerous media outlets summarized Duke’s press release, hailing the c...
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When voters in Nevada and Florida hit the polls they will see ballot measures on energy that, if passed, would have a significant impact on consumer choice and monopolies for energy utilities.  In...
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The Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC), which regulates public utilities and telecommunications companies, is facing increased scrutiny by the FBI and backlash from state media outlets over its p...
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In one of the remaining four states that explicitly ban third-party solar sales, a small nonprofit is continuing its fight against the nation’s biggest utility over the right to sell solar power to...
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The Sunshine State didn’t get its name for nothing: Florida ranks third nationally in rooftop solar energy potential. But thanks to restrictive laws supported by the state’s powerful utility monopo...
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Around the nation, big utility companies are successfully lobbying lawmakers and regulators to restrict individual and corporate access to solar power, denying people significant savings on electri...
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There are solar battles blazing all across the west right now, as utilities anchored to fossil fuel power plants strain to avoid the inevitable spread of solar across their areas of operation. Not...
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You’ve most likely heard of the so-called “war on coal,” especially given how eagerly mainstream newspapers have helped conservatives in pushing this bogus meme. But there’s another war going on, o...
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First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then they… steal your business model? Solar energy is booming: More than half a million US homes and businesses have gone sola...