Republicans v. Democrats: Who’s Installing More Solar?

By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent

What Happened:A recent study by an outfit called Priceonomics reports that Republicans in California have installed more solar than Democrats.

  • While the study found that Republicans in the state have installed solar at a 5 to 1 ratio may surprise some, the study itself has some methodological flaws that make it impossible to generalize its findings beyond California.
  • It also has a couple of “Well, duh” conclusions, too.

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    SolarWakeup’s View:  When you’re deciding what conclusions you can draw from any given set of data, one of the first questions you should ask yourself is: “Is this data generalizable?” If not, it may not invalidate the study – but you should be hesitant about making any grand claims about it, either.

    Such is the case with a study touted by Priceomomics, which reaches the conclusion that despite what you might think, Republicans install more solar than Democrats. OMG if true, right (not really, but you’ve already gone this far on the journey with me, so let’s keep going)?

    Well, the truth, as it often is, is far more complex and complicated than the study would have you believe. While the data is interesting, here are some cautions:

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  • Are CALIFORNIA Republicans really representative of Republicans across the country at this point? Isn’t it fair to say they are their own brand, much like California Solar & Storage Association is no longer associated with the national lobbying group? If so, it might make sense that there’s more solar in this group than is applicable across the country.
  • Solar used to be the province of the well-to-do. While that’s certainly changed in the past five years, it makes sense that those with more money have solar while those with less money do not. (Wait until community solar really takes off over the next five years and then call me.)
  • The idea that solar is a Republican or Democratic issue is a bit silly in any case, given that around nine out of every 10 Americans say they support more solar development.

    • And then there’s this:

    Our analysis shows that households’ decision to go solar is not driven by political affiliation. Instead, people who live in areas that are sunny, dry, and less dense tend to install solar panels at higher rates. And in California, the country’s top state for solar, that means you’re more likely to see solar panels in Republican bastions than Democratic strongholds.

    Really? That’s your conclusion? That’s a lot of words to spend on a conclusion I could have told you without doing a lick of study. I mean….for reals.

    One out of one authors of this piece say go ahead and read the study, but don’t leave your skepticism at its mother’s house, especially if you’re trying to spot national solar trends.

    More:

    Are Republicans or Democrats More Likely to Go Solar?

    Americans Tell Gallup: Develop More Solar, Please