DRILL, BABY, DRILL: TRUMP AND CONGRESS MUST END SOLAR IN DC
President Donald Trump and Congress, I call upon you to end solar energy in the District of Columbia immediately. Under the Obama administration, led by the Radical Left, federal investments and policies significantly expanded the US solar energy sector, dramatically lowering costs and increasing the number of installations. These efforts centered on economic recovery, tax incentives, funding for research and development, and broader access to solar power. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 was the largest single investment in clean energy in U.S. history, this act injected over $90 billion in strategic clean energy funding and tax incentives, which spurred a major expansion of solar projects. Clean energy investments made up over one eighth of total Recovery Act spending. The ARRA of 2009 allocated an estimated total of $787 billion across various sectors, with a significant portion going to state and local governments for infrastructure, education, and other public investments. The ARRA was a government job creation program. In Science Direct's Journal of Monetary Economics, Timothy Conley and Bill Dupor, in "The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act: Solely a government jobs program?", wrote:- ARRA spending increased government employment by between 156,000 and 563,000 jobs (90% CI).
- The private-sector impact was between a loss of 180,000 and a gain of 1.1 million jobs (90% CI).
- Our point estimate for the Act's implied cost of creating a job lasting one year is $202,000.
The state-by-state distribution of renewable energy funds from ARRA of 2009 varied by program. Two key initiatives that provided significant funding to states were the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) and the State Energy Program (SEP). A comprehensive statistical chart of renewable energy funds distributed under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) is not readily available.Federal funding from the 2009 ARRA was disbursed to Washington, D.C., through programs like the State Energy Program (SEP) and used for energy-related initiatives. In the District, these funds were primarily directed toward energy efficiency upgrades and planning, including a program to fund school energy improvements and an evaluation program run through the District Department of the Environment (DDOE). The primary origin of DC's renewable energy development funds is the Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard (RPS) Act of 2004, which created the Renewable Energy Development Fund (REDF). This fund is financed by penalties paid by electricity suppliers who fail to meet a certain percentage of their power from renewable sources, known as Alternative Compliance Payments. Later, the Clean and Affordable Energy Act of 2008 established the Sustainable Energy Trust Fund (SETF), funded by assessments on utility customers, which also supports renewable energy programs. The ARRA created long-term, negative economic threats but also created a national security threat.
The ARRA funded renewable energy in the US. The ARRA provided significant funding for renewable energy through programs that supported research, development, and deployment. Key initiatives included a cash grant option for renewable energy projects (Section 1603), loan programs for clean energy, funding for DOE programs like the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), and investments in clean energy manufacturing and job training. These funds were used for a wide range of projects, from large-scale solar and wind to advanced vehicle technologies and energy efficiency improvements. China dominates the global solar panel industry due to its large-scale, cost-efficient manufacturing, controlling over 80% of the supply chain. The US is attempting to boost its domestic industry through tariffs, subsidies, and restrictions on components like polysilicon linked to forced labor, but this has led to higher costs and shifts in imports to countries like Thailand and Malaysia. Despite efforts to build a domestic industry, US solar manufacturing capacity remains far smaller than China's. China dominates the global solar energy (PV) supply chain with an over 80% share. The Chinese solar industry is currently losing millions of dollars a year. It is kept in business by massive financial support from the Chinese Communist government. Andrew Rechenberg in "China’s Solar Firms Are Surviving on CCP Subsidies" said, "Price-cutting by Chinese solar suppliers threatens the existence of all Western solar energy equipment manufacturers." Concerns exist that Chinese-made solar equipment, particularly inverters, could have "kill switches" or backdoors that allow for remote shutdown or data exfiltration by the Chinese government. Yes, solar energy can pose national security risks due to cybersecurity vulnerabilities and reliance on foreign supply chains. These risks include cyberattacks via compromised inverters and other connected devices, which could be manipulated to disrupt the power grid, and an overdependence on a single country, like China, for manufacturing and materials. Undocumented communication devices, such as "kill switches" or hidden radios, have reportedly been found in some Chinese-manufactured inverters and battery systems. These backdoors can allow remote access and sabotage of the grid. Inverters, which convert solar power to usable electricity and connect to the grid, are a key target. If compromised, they could be manipulated to create power surges or disrupt other grid-connected equipment. The Economic Times in "Chinese 'kill switches' found in equipment at US solar firms trigger national security fears. What are they?, reported, "'Engineers have discovered 'kill switches' embedded in Chinese-manufactured parts on American solar farms, raising fears Beijing could manipulate supplies or 'physically destroy' grids across the US, UK and Europe.
Rogue communication devices found in Chinese solar inverters have triggered fears of national security concerns. Some, like the U.S., view China as a significant military and cyber threat, particularly concerning its actions against critical infrastructure, while others, like the UK, have expressed concerns about Chinese espionage and its potential impact on national security through technologies like 5G networks. The Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) warned, "Chinese Government Poses 'Broad and Unrelenting' Threat to U.S. Critical Infrastructure".The FBI Director warned, “The PRC [People’s Republic of China] has made it clear that it considers every sector that makes our society run as fair game in its bid to dominate on the world stage, and that its plan is to land low blows against civilian infrastructure to try to induce panic and break America’s will to resist,” in remarks at the Vanderbilt Summit on Modern Conflict and Emerging Threats in Nashville. The District of Columbia, the Nation's Capitol, is at the center of economic, diplomatic, or military threat from China in solar technology or solar power.
Solar must be ended in DC. Trump's stance on solar energy is characterized by policies that favor fossil fuels, a reduction in subsidies and incentives for renewables, and the imposition of tariffs on imported solar panels. The Trump administration has reversed or canceled federal programs aimed at promoting solar development, such as the Solar for All program, and has made it more difficult to deploy solar projects. Critics argue these actions will hinder the growth of the solar industry and its associated jobs, while supporters maintain they are necessary to boost domestic fossil fuel production and protect American interests. The District of Columbia's Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE) was formed in 2006 by merging the DC Government's Environmental Health Administration with the DC Energy Office and parts of the Office of Recycling and Tree Management Administration. This merger, authorized by DC Law 16-51, created a single agency to handle environmental and energy programs, services, laws, and regulations for the city. Its mission is to protect the environment and public health while promoting energy efficiency through a consolidated "one-stop shop" for residents and businesses. The DC Solar for All program originated from the Renewable Portfolio Standard Expansion Amendment Act of 2016, which established the program to provide solar energy benefits to low- to moderate-income households. Launched in 2016 by Mayor Muriel Bowser, the program's main goal is to reduce the electricity bills of at least 100,000 low-income households by 50% by 2032. It is funded through the Renewable Energy Development Fund and administered by the DC Department of Energy & Environment.
In DC, Solar for All aims to bring the benefits of solar energy to 100,000 low to moderate income families in the District. DOEE is partnering with organizations across the District to install solar on single family homes and develop community solar projects to benefit renters and residents in multi-family buildings. All Solar for All participants should expect to see a 50% savings on their electricity bill over 15 years and can be proud to have gone solar! Rooftop solar generation is the leading strategy for generating local, clean energy in the densely developed District. It is highly likely that some solar panels used in Washington, D.C. are manufactured by Chinese companies, even though they may not be imported directly from China. Due to complex international trade and supply chains, the exact country of origin for all panels is difficult to track. China has been the largest global manufacturer of solar panels for over a decade and controls more than 80% of the worldwide supply chain for solar components. This means that many U.S. solar panel brands either manufacture in China or use Chinese-made components. The technology needed to convert solar power into usable electricity also largely comes from China. In 2025, approximately 78% of all solar inverters were manufactured in China. The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) has served [in our view] as a de facto mouthpiece for Chinese solar manufacturers, consistently pushing policies that benefit China’s dominance in the solar industry at the expense of American manufacturers. Kenneth Rapoza in "China’s Preferred Solar Lobby in D.C. Exposed for Undermining U.S. Industry" wrote, "A former senior Biden administration official recently admitted to The Guardian that SEIA’s lobbying efforts “shaped the narrative before many had a chance to understand the full facts.” The official noted that SEIA’s messaging—portraying Commerce’s enforcement of trade laws as a threat to the President’s climate agenda—was a masterclass in manipulation. But in the end, SEIA’s campaign has done nothing but undermine America’s ability to rebuild its solar industry." Clean Energy is not successful without ideological governmental influence, expensive federal and state subsidy, and collusive behavior between government and industry.
Without expensive subsidy where would solar be? George Washington said. “We must consult our means rather than our wishes.” Norman Rogers, in "Solar Energy Is Not Competitive with Fossil Fuels", wrote, "In a typical electrical grid environment, electricity generated by a utility-scale solar farm costs about seven times more than electricity from a natural gas generating plant. Yet many people think solar electricity is a breakthrough. No, it is a wasteful boondoggle.", Rogers continues, "A government mandate to purchase renewable electricity gives wind and solar developers enhanced negotiating power. The utility is forced to buy renewable power, even if the renewable power is exorbitantly expensive...The long-term power purchase agreement is a subsidy because it removes risk by guaranteeing a market for 20-years or more. That lowers the return on investment needed and thus lowers the price of electricity. Lowering the rate of return from 12 percent to 8 percent is a one third subsidy. The utility pays for the subsidy because it is giving a guarantee of future purchase of electricity. Such guarantees are nearly as good as cash." Multiple issues related to solar power corruption and fraud have involved Washington, D.C., and a company named DC Solar. These include a massive Ponzi scheme, deceptive billing by the utility company Pepco, and general consumer protection scams.
DC Solar was a California-based company that claimed to manufacture mobile solar generators, which it sold to investors with the promise of lucrative returns and federal tax credits. Federal prosecutors revealed that nearly half of the 17,000 promised generators never existed. The company was in fact paying early investors with money from later investors. Unscrupulous companies often use complex and predatory loan agreements. They may hide fees or interest rates, leaving homeowners with little or no savings on their energy bills, and even risk foreclosure in some cases. In September 2025, D.C. Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb issued a consumer alert regarding predatory sales tactics in the home solar system industry. According to the warning, sales companies have been targeting certain vulnerable populations, including seniors, non-native English speakers, and residents in Wards 4, 5, 7, and 8. Wards 7 and 8 in Washington, D.C., are predominantly Black, with over 90% of residents in both wards identifying as Black or African American. Ward 7 has a population of approximately 74,561 people, while Ward 8 has approximately 73,200 residents. Both wards have higher poverty rates than the city average, a higher percentage of young people, and are considered to be "food deserts" due to a lack of access to grocery stores.
On October 27, 2021, Bowser announces, "Mayor Bowser Announces New Partnership to Connect More Residents to the Solar for All Program". “Today, we’re highlighting two programs that both bring the benefits of solar power to DC residents: the Solar for All program and the Solar Works DC program,” said Mayor Bowser. “These programs not only move DC closer to our climate and clean energy goals, they give DC residents a fair shot. I’m grateful for the Mayor’s Office on Latino Affairs for stepping up to get more residents connected to Solar for All, and we encourage any resident who is interested in saving on their electric bills to apply.”Solar Works DC, launched by Mayor Bowser in 2017 and operated out of the DC Infrastructure Academy, is a collaboration between DOEE and the Department of Employment Services (DOES) and provides District residents with paid career training. The Mayor’s Fiscal Year 2022 Fair Shot Budget provides $3 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds for Solar Works, with $1.5 million to sustain the existing program and the other $1.5 million that will support the expansion, doubling the number of participants from 75 to 150. Bowser's Growth Agenda, proposed 2026 budget, includes solar energy funding: "Since its launch, the Vitality Fund has supported 12 companies, with commitments to create 870 new jobs, retain 486 jobs, occupy 231,000 square feet of office space, and invest $35.1 million in capital improvements." Governmental subsidy for jobs and energy by the Radical Left.
Congresswoman Carol Miller (R-WV) and Congressman Lance Gooden (R-TX) called on Attorney General Pamela Bondi to launch an investigation into the Biden DOJ’s dismissal of a $275 million fraud lawsuit against Tonopah Solar Energy, LLC. The case, filed under the False Claims Act, exposes millions in taxpayer losses tied to the failed Crescent Dunes solar project—a glaring example of reckless green energy crusades. Solar energy is a failure:
- High upfront investment: The initial cost of installing solar panels and battery storage can be expensive for homeowners and businesses, with repayment periods of many years.
- Dependence on subsidies: Some critics argue that the solar market is reliant on government incentives and tax credits, and can be severely damaged by policy changes.
- Industry instability: Recent reports from mid-2025 indicated that the U.S. residential solar market experienced a significant decline, accompanied by a wave of bankruptcies for major solar companies.
Benjamin Franklin said, "I didn't fail the test, I just found 100 ways to do it wrong." The Radical Left tell us "We didn't fail solar energy. We found 100 ways to create government subsidy and government jobs." All making solar energy a failure, susceptible to fraud, a national security threat and a waste of taxpayer's money. Drill, Baby, Drill! Trump and Congress must end solar in DC.
Save the City.
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