Somewhere along the way, solar energy got labeled a liberal cause. That label doesn’t hold up anymore. Not nationally. And certainly not in Nevada.
The data is pretty clear: A poll from Fabrizio, Lee & Associates — President Trump’s own chief pollster — found that 68% of Republican voters support expanding solar power to lower electricity costs.
Another poll from Kellyanne Conway’s firm found that 75% of Trump voters in key battleground states want solar as part of America’s energy supply.
These aren’t environmentalists. These are conservatives who want cheaper power bills and a stronger America.
The Free Market Is Already Choosing Solar
Here’s something you might not know. In 2025, 73% of all new solar capacity installed in the United States went into states that voted for President Trump.
States like Texas, Florida, Indiana, and Arkansas are leading the solar boom because competitive energy markets are choosing the cheapest, fastest option available, and right now, that’s often solar.
Texas alone was running 30,000 megawatts of solar at times this year, covering 60% of total demand and keeping prices stable. Indiana installed more solar in 2025 than all six New England states combined.
What It Means for Nevada
Nevada sits in one of the sunniest places on earth. The state already ranks among the top five nationally for solar generation.
Solar provides about 31% of Nevada’s total electricity. There are dozens of projects in various stages of development that represent 33 gigawatts of potential capacity — enough to generate an estimated $6 billion in state and local taxes and tens of thousands of jobs.
Companies building data centers and advanced manufacturing facilities want reliable, affordable electricity that solar helps to deliver. Every major employer that chooses Nevada over another state because of competitive energy costs means real jobs for Nevada families.
Lombardo Understands This
Governor Joe Lombardo has been clear about where he stands. When a federal permitting bottleneck began freezing solar projects last year — a result of an Interior Department order requiring the secretary’s personal sign-off on every project on public land — Lombardo pushed back.
He wrote directly to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, warning that projects already deep in the development pipeline were stalling and that Nevada’s mining industry and data center growth couldn’t afford the delay.
Lombardo wrote:
“Solar energy development in Nevada is crucial to our state’s economic future and will contribute to the Nation’s energy dominance and independence,”
He then took the issue directly to President Trump, who indicated he would work to clear the path for Nevada projects. Several have since shown signs of movement.
Nevada’s energy future shouldn’t be decided by a single federal official’s inbox.
The Bottom Line
Limited government conservatives have always believed that decisions made closer to home produce better results than decisions made in Washington. Nevada’s governor is fighting to make energy decisions for Nevada.
The free market is already choosing solar in red states across the country. And Republican voters — by wide margins — support expanding solar to lower costs and strengthen American energy independence.
The conservative case for solar isn’t complicated:
Cheap energy, American jobs, and less dependence on foreign powers. The path to independence starts with more decisions being made in Carson City and fewer being made in Washington.
The opinions expressed by contributors are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Nevada News & Views. This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
