At a rally in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Wednesday, President Donald J. Trump proposed a new funding mechanism to pay for the mythical wall he’s going to : solar panels – and touted the fact, to cheers from his supporters, that it would ultimately save Mexico money.
Pardon me while I put on my neck brace to aid my recovery from the whiplash.
Candidate Trump spent most of the 2016 campaign telling these same people how solar was too expensive, how it didn’t work and how it was the energy source of the elite (as opposed to coal, which apparently is the fuel source of “real Americans”). President Trump has spent a good part of his nascent Administration bashing solar, putting fossil-fuel advocates in charge of everything solar and proposing enormous cuts to solar research programs.
He has offered coal miners the delusional dream of “clean coal” technology saving their jobs instead of creating sustainable plans to give them a future and seems hellbent on dragging U.S. energy production back to the 19th century (a phrase I must give my colleague Christian Roselund credit for coining).
And yet….and yet…..now that he’s struggling to find a way to force Mexico or Congress to pay for the visions of an imaginary wall that are dancing in his head (he also said at the rally that he had a good imagination, of which this wall is clear evidence), he’s now lighted on this idea of using solar panels and the energy it produces to pay for it.
It’s clear once again that Trump doesn’t really understand how solar works. From his words, he appears to believe the mere production of energy will somehow generate revenue, ignoring the fact someone has to buy the energy it produces. He didn’t explain who would be dong that – was he planning to sell the power to Mexico? The poor residents of south Texas border towns? Who will be purchasing the electricity and at what price?
(It should be noted: Trump keeps telling everyone what a great negotiator he is, so I have no doubt he’ll be able to negotiate the BEST power-purchase agreement (PPA), the GREATEST PPA the world has ever seen. Though it should also be noted that his record as president on negotiating deals has been … spotty at best.)
When this idea was originally floated earlier this month, leaked to CNN by those anonymous sources Trump’s always railing against, it was met with a rousing “meh” from the solar industry. There’s been not a single piece of meat added to the skeleton, which means the solar industry is still waiting to see if any of this comes to fruition.
Given this president’s habit of either flip-flopping on his campaign promises or denying he ever made them, I’m skeptical any of this will matter in the end. The solar industry should, too.
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Dear Frank,
have you considered the possibility that a sizable and influential segment of PV Mag readership does not share your bias?
try drinking out of a glass half full.
Gary:
Thanks for reaching out – we really do appreciate feedback and look forward to a healthy exchange of ideas on this subject.
1) At the end of the article, there is clearly a disclaimer making it clear this was an opinion piece. The reporters at pv magazine do, from time to time, offer opinions about issues within the solar industry. I am a reporter, but I do have opinions, and the magazine allows me to express them on occasion as long as they are labeled as such, as this one was.
2) As far as what President Trump has said and done as it relates to the solar industry, I don’t think I was inaccurate. You may disagree with my interpretation of the meaning of what he said, but what he has said and done is what he has said and done. And I’m not one who subscribes to the idea that I should listen to what is in his head/heart instead of listening to what he says.
3) When I am expressing my own opinions, I would never claim to speak for anyone else in the industry, sizable, influential or otherwise. As the disclaimer points out, the views expressed in the article are my own and my own only.
I wish you nothing but the best, and I hope the sun always shines in Provo. Have a great weekend.
Peace always to you and yours,
Frank
Bias, against stupid? What bias? Trump’s words are his words. Is it biased to say something about the fact that Trump promised Mexico would pay for the wall, when everyone that isn’t biased knows that was all hogwash from the beginning? Please explain why calling Trump out on his lies, exaggerations and alternative facts is being biased.
Solar collectors tend to face south. President Trump and his proposed wall are not popular in Mexico. It would have been interesting to ask the President how he proposes protecting these collectors from thrown rocks and other incidents of vandalism.
Here’s an idea: build solar power plants IN Mexico to take people out of poverty with cheap energy and maybe they won’t be as interested in crossing the border in the first place. Win-Win for everybody.