Texas Republicans clash over future of renewable energy in battle for party’s soul
A growing rift among Texas Republicans over wind and solar energy has ignited a political and economic fight with national implications, as conservative lawmakers seek to roll back renewable energy programs that their own party once championed.
Saul Elbein reports for The Hill.
In short:
- Texas Republicans are divided over legislation that would restrict renewable energy, with rural lawmakers backing solar and wind while suburban conservatives push to prioritize natural gas.
- Bills advancing in the state senate would limit where wind and solar can be built and mandate new electric sources rely heavily on natural gas, despite the economic gains renewables bring to many local districts.
- The ideological shift stems partly from donor-driven opposition to green energy and reflects a broader movement to dismantle federal and state support for renewables once supported by Republican leaders like George W. Bush and Rick Perry.
Key quote:
“Wind turbines, I don’t have to mark them or castrate them or give them shots or medicine… I used to cuss at the wind. Now I say, ‘turn baby turn.’”
— John Davis, former Texas state representative
Why this matters:
Texas produces more wind power than any other in the U.S., and many rural communities depend on renewable energy revenues to fund schools, hospitals, and infrastructure. As the climate crisis deepens and energy demand surges in a growing state, how Texas decides to balance its energy mix has national consequences. Renewable sources are among the cheapest and fastest-growing forms of electricity, but they now face political headwinds from factions within the Republican Party seeking to dismantle the bipartisan legacy that built them. If these efforts succeed, they could derail billions in investments, undermine grid reliability, and drive up energy prices.
Learn more: Texas coal plant to transition to solar and battery with federal aid
