{"id":460968,"date":"2026-08-07T05:19:50","date_gmt":"2026-08-07T12:19:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=460968"},"modified":"2026-08-07T05:19:52","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T12:19:52","slug":"the-conservatives-being-paid-to-sell-you-wind-and-solar","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=460968","title":{"rendered":"The \u2018conservatives\u2019 being paid to sell you wind and solar"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

From CFACT<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

By Frank Lasee<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two things are true about the \u201cconservative\u201d groups now urging young conservatives to embrace wind and solar. Wind and solar are not cheaper once system costs are counted, and these groups are not grassroots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A handful of organizations with reassuringly right-of-center names \u2014 the American Conservation Coalition<\/a>, Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions,<\/a> and the Conservative Energy Network<\/a> \u2014 pitch renewables as the smart free market choice that will lower bills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Both halves collapse on contact with evidence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Start with the messengers. Major funding flows from the same left-of-center foundations that bankroll the climate movement \u2014 MacArthur Foundation, U.S. Energy Foundation, Clean Future Forum, and similar donors \u2014 foundations that also write large checks to progressive green groups conservatives routinely oppose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These are not grassroots conservatives who studied the numbers and converted. They are financed by left-leaning climate philanthropy to carry a progressive energy message into conservative circles under a borrowed label.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The message does not survive contact with real grids.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They claim that renewables are \u201cthe cheapest option,\u201d that wind is \u201cthe most economically competitive\u201d and that families\u2019 bills will become \u201cmuch more affordable.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Look at the places that went all-in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Germany\u2019s Energiewende left households with among the highest electricity prices in Europe. California leads the nation in wind and solar, yet has some of the highest residential rates in America, nearly double the U.S. average. Britain leaned hard on intermittent generation and now ranks among Europe\u2019s most expensive power markets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If more wind and solar truly delivered cheaper power, then their electricity would be a bargain. It is not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why does \u201ccheap\u201d energy keep producing expensive bills? These groups omit two key reasons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first is the backup problem. Wind and solar are intermittent, so the grid still requires a nearly full fleet of dispatchable plants or massive storage. Consumers pay for two systems, even though one reliable fleet once worked just fine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is like buying cars that run only on sunny or windy days while still owning and insuring a reliable vehicle for every other hour. No one calls that thrift.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The second is how wholesale markets actually clear. The price is set by the last, most expensive unit needed \u2014 almost always natural gas or another thermal plant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even when wind and solar flood the grid, the clearing price is usually the gas price. Subsidized intermittent generators receive that price when they run \u2014 no \u201ccheap\u201d power for us. We still pay for the reliability layer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The brochure savings appear only if weather-dependent sources could power the entire grid every hour. They cannot. System costs, backup, transmission, and curtailment (paying for wind and solar not to produce when the grid is full) keep the promised savings out of reach by design.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

None of this is complicated, and the well-funded groups know it. So what are the donors buying?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They are paid to rebrand weather-dependent power as a free market conservative idea, softening resistance to the subsidies and mandates their funders have long sought.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That is not conservatism. It is the left\u2019s energy agenda wearing a borrowed suit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Real conservatives want what we have always wanted: affordable, reliable power. Abundant American clean coal, natural gas, and nuclear power deliver it. Wind and solar, however dressed in free-market language, do not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Young conservatives who say renewables are the cheap, patriotic choice should ask who signs the checks behind the messenger. Other countries have already run the experiment. Their electric bills are the receipts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This article originally appeared at The Washington Times<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Two things are true about the \u201cconservative\u201d groups now urging young conservatives to embrace wind and solar. Wind and solar are not cheaper once system costs are counted, and these groups are not grassroots.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":121246920,"featured_media":460970,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_coblocks_attr":"","_coblocks_dimensions":"","_coblocks_responsive_height":"","_coblocks_accordion_ie_support":"","advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_seo_schema_type":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_wpcom_ai_launchpad_first_post":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"Two things are true about the \"conservative\" groups now urging young conservatives to embrace wind and solar. Wind and solar are not cheaper once system costs are counted, and these groups are not grassroots.","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1],"tags":[691844527,691844524,691844528,691844518,691844529,691818728],"class_list":["post-460968","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-american-conservation-coalition","tag-citizens-for-responsible-energy-solutions","tag-conservative-energy-network","tag-two-things-are-true-about-the-conservative-groups-now-urging-young-conservatives-to-embrace-wind-and-solar-wind-and-solar-are-not-cheaper-once-system-costs-are-counted","tag-weather-dependent-sources","tag-wind-and-solar","fallback-thumbnail"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/paxLW1-1VUY","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":423736,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=423736","url_meta":{"origin":460968,"position":0},"title":"All of the above, please","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"01\/29\/2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Wind and solar industry lobbyists are appealing to conservatives in a last-ditch effort to promote wind and solar power as a reliable energy source.","rel":"","context":"In \"coal\"","block_context":{"text":"coal","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=coal"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/0AQN6x49Z9KAFSsoNkWk60cNFQnK29Y2tgq9zzbO_ExR4UTo7YIORRvAkKxLNApeDL_M1858dn0GbWhYFR8CD3KgC8W3_-wi9hBkoXBeGxHz7ElyfHhbsfS3_TnHd0TnO-1.jpeg?fit=680%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/0AQN6x49Z9KAFSsoNkWk60cNFQnK29Y2tgq9zzbO_ExR4UTo7YIORRvAkKxLNApeDL_M1858dn0GbWhYFR8CD3KgC8W3_-wi9hBkoXBeGxHz7ElyfHhbsfS3_TnHd0TnO-1.jpeg?fit=680%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/0AQN6x49Z9KAFSsoNkWk60cNFQnK29Y2tgq9zzbO_ExR4UTo7YIORRvAkKxLNApeDL_M1858dn0GbWhYFR8CD3KgC8W3_-wi9hBkoXBeGxHz7ElyfHhbsfS3_TnHd0TnO-1.jpeg?fit=680%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":283294,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=283294","url_meta":{"origin":460968,"position":1},"title":"Extraordinary Costs Of Green Energy Creeping Slowly Into Public Awareness","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"10\/14\/2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Skyrocketing electricity bills and power prices are the result of green energy policies. From The MANHATTAN CONTRARIAN Francis Menton A key claim of the green energy movement has long been that the intermittent \u201crenewables\u201d \u2014 wind and solar \u2014 provide the cheapest form of energy. Therefore, the advocates say, just\u2026","rel":"","context":"In \"energy future\"","block_context":{"text":"energy future","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=energy-future"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/0pri75821100-1.webp?fit=1200%2C600&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/0pri75821100-1.webp?fit=1200%2C600&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/0pri75821100-1.webp?fit=1200%2C600&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/0pri75821100-1.webp?fit=1200%2C600&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/0pri75821100-1.webp?fit=1200%2C600&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":422172,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=422172","url_meta":{"origin":460968,"position":2},"title":"Net Zero Conservative MPs Promote Scheme to Cover Ponds with Solar Panels That\u2019s Completely Quackers","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"01\/20\/2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Your correspondent has a confession. I need to get up at least two hours earlier to keep abreast of all the current madness that is Net Zero. The un-walked dog will have to go back to resuming her slumbers on the best seat in the house while I digest the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In \"Conservative Environment Network (CEN)\"","block_context":{"text":"Conservative Environment Network (CEN)","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=conservative-environment-network-cen"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/0Screenshot-2026-01-18-at-11.45.43.png?fit=1200%2C568&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/0Screenshot-2026-01-18-at-11.45.43.png?fit=1200%2C568&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/0Screenshot-2026-01-18-at-11.45.43.png?fit=1200%2C568&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/0Screenshot-2026-01-18-at-11.45.43.png?fit=1200%2C568&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/0Screenshot-2026-01-18-at-11.45.43.png?fit=1200%2C568&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":277660,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=277660","url_meta":{"origin":460968,"position":3},"title":"Wounded Texas from Wind and Solar (backdoor recognition at the Houston Chronicle)","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"09\/07\/2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Don\u2019t expect the\u00a0Houston Chronicle\u00a0editorial team, much less the\u00a0conflicted,\u00a0climate-religionist\u00a0business editorialist Chris Tomlinson, to forthrightly explain how a once reliable grid in the Lone Start State became wounded. They will blame it on the weather (too cold, too hot). But the real story is wind and solar reliance at the expense of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In \"Chris Tomlinson\"","block_context":{"text":"Chris Tomlinson","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=chris-tomlinson"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/0texas-wind-solar-coal1.jpg?fit=1200%2C630&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/0texas-wind-solar-coal1.jpg?fit=1200%2C630&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/0texas-wind-solar-coal1.jpg?fit=1200%2C630&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/0texas-wind-solar-coal1.jpg?fit=1200%2C630&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/0texas-wind-solar-coal1.jpg?fit=1200%2C630&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":254362,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=254362","url_meta":{"origin":460968,"position":4},"title":"Hoffman participates in conservation panel with Arlington Young Republicans","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"04\/23\/2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Gabriella Hoffman, host of CFACT\u2019s \u201cDistrict of Conservation\u201d podcast and \u201cConservation Nation\u201d YouTube series, was invited to speak as part of the Arlington Falls Church Young Republicans\u2019 \u201cEnergy, Environment, and Conservation Panel\u201d in Virginia.","rel":"","context":"In \"American economy\"","block_context":{"text":"American economy","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=american-economy"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/0image-424-1024x768-1.webp?fit=1024%2C768&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/0image-424-1024x768-1.webp?fit=1024%2C768&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/0image-424-1024x768-1.webp?fit=1024%2C768&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/0image-424-1024x768-1.webp?fit=1024%2C768&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":442611,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=442611","url_meta":{"origin":460968,"position":5},"title":"\u2018Republican\u2019 Green energy fantasies and casualties","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"05\/04\/2026","format":false,"excerpt":"President Trump has it dead right. Recently, he signed five executive orders using the Defense Production Act to accelerate domestic fossil fuel development and electrical grid infrastructure. America needs no-holds-barred development of oil, natural gas, coal, critical minerals, metals, a nuclear renaissance, and manufacturing of the technologies that keep our\u2026","rel":"","context":"In \"affordable energy\"","block_context":{"text":"affordable energy","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=affordable-energy"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/AQMNfEscO9EicbgcpTePoRWLJhRpX711TsYUZe0Ahza7PCflCwpcF0dt_B_Uj9Nl1XY38DeYq_jH2xk29cKzfEvcbeinM1w7Rp0YZfZTm7OG3K_E6a2zqAgvP-oiNemFGYJ81hKeeeAjJuRZYKrcdVOzLOlasg.jpeg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/AQMNfEscO9EicbgcpTePoRWLJhRpX711TsYUZe0Ahza7PCflCwpcF0dt_B_Uj9Nl1XY38DeYq_jH2xk29cKzfEvcbeinM1w7Rp0YZfZTm7OG3K_E6a2zqAgvP-oiNemFGYJ81hKeeeAjJuRZYKrcdVOzLOlasg.jpeg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/AQMNfEscO9EicbgcpTePoRWLJhRpX711TsYUZe0Ahza7PCflCwpcF0dt_B_Uj9Nl1XY38DeYq_jH2xk29cKzfEvcbeinM1w7Rp0YZfZTm7OG3K_E6a2zqAgvP-oiNemFGYJ81hKeeeAjJuRZYKrcdVOzLOlasg.jpeg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/AQMNfEscO9EicbgcpTePoRWLJhRpX711TsYUZe0Ahza7PCflCwpcF0dt_B_Uj9Nl1XY38DeYq_jH2xk29cKzfEvcbeinM1w7Rp0YZfZTm7OG3K_E6a2zqAgvP-oiNemFGYJ81hKeeeAjJuRZYKrcdVOzLOlasg.jpeg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/AQMNfEscO9EicbgcpTePoRWLJhRpX711TsYUZe0Ahza7PCflCwpcF0dt_B_Uj9Nl1XY38DeYq_jH2xk29cKzfEvcbeinM1w7Rp0YZfZTm7OG3K_E6a2zqAgvP-oiNemFGYJ81hKeeeAjJuRZYKrcdVOzLOlasg.jpeg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/0-ChatGPT-The-%E2%80%98conservatives-being-paid-to-sell-you-wind-and-solar.png?fit=1536%2C1024&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/460968","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/121246920"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=460968"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/460968\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":460975,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/460968\/revisions\/460975"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/460970"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=460968"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=460968"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=460968"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}