It’s unusual these days for Republicans and Democrats to agree on policy issues. Kentucky’s Senate Bill 100, as amended in the House, is that rare piece of legislation. It deserves to pass in its House-amended form and be signed into law.

The amended legislation on net metering strikes a fair compromise. I commend Rep. Jim DuPlessis for his willingness to hear the concerns of the solar industry and consumers in Kentucky. Although it is not a victory for the solar industry, per se, the amended bill is much closer to compromise than the original version of SB 100. Utilities didn’t get everything they wanted, but neither did the solar industry. T...

As former Chairman of the South Carolina Republican Party, I was as surprised as anyone by some of last week’s primary election results. Political upheaval seems to be the norm these days, rather than a rarity.

In this age of amazing technology and rapid economic change, it seems our citizens are often frustrated by how slowly government tends to move to address their wishes. Rightly, one outlet is the ballot box, but it would help for government to break down more barriers to entrepreneurs and consumers. These barriers often stand in the way of innovation.

For example, we’ve all heard the story of South Carolina’s so-called “solar cap.” It’s t...

I recently became the Chairman of the Palmetto Conservative Solar Coalition, a group dedicated to removing barriers to solar businesses and applying common sense, conservative economic principles to help further energy independence with solar energy in my home state of South Carolina.

Solar power and energy choice are inherently conservative, and as a conservative, I support the free market driven by innovation. Our founding fathers also believed in this principle of self-determination – that we, as citizens, could chart our own course and improve our lot in life. That’s true in many facets of daily life but not usually the case when it comes...

WHAT – Palmetto Conservative Solar Coalition (PCSC) Press Conference

WHEN – 11:45am, Tuesday, March 20th

WHERE – 2nd Floor Lobby of the SC State House

Nathan Ballentine - SC Representative; Chairman of the SC Energy Caucus 
Tyson Grinstead, Policy Director with Sunrun  
Charles Hernick, Director of Policy and Advocacy, CRES Forum 
Matt Moore, Chairman of the Palmetto Conservative Solar Coalition 
Bret Sowers, Chairman of South Carolina Solar Business Alliance.
 

If it weren’t already obvious, South Carolina has turned a corner on solar energy: Individuals of every political stripe now support further developing this technology and other innovative clean energy resources. A recent poll by Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions (CRES) Forum found that 75 percent of voters nationwide favor t...

On June 20, 1979, then-President Jimmy Carter dedicated solar panels newly installed on the White House roof, saying, "In the year 2000 this solar water heater behind me, which is being dedicated today, will still be here supplying cheap, efficient energy." Less than a decade later, President Ronald Reagan had the panels removed. The panels of the day were not very efficient and were doing little more than heating water.

Fast-forward to today and it is clear the Carter-era stunt did much to cement in the minds of conservatives that solar energy is a waste of resources and must be subsidized. Compounding conservative distrust, liberals from coa...

Columbia, S.C. - The Chairman of the Palmetto Conservative Solar Coalition (PCSC) today applauded a South Carolina House Judiciary subcommittee for its unanimous passage of H. 4421, a bill that would bring more free market solar energy choices to South Carolina consumers.

"In just a few years, South Carolina has become a leader in solar energy growth. I'm thrilled that House members recognize how H. 4421 will continue this positive trend by giving consumers even more free market energy choices," said Matt Moore, Chairman of the PCSC. "Now the bill moves to the full the Judiciary Committee, where we are confident that despite big power's object...

The former chairman of the South Carolina Republican Party was chosen as the new head of a conservative group encouraging solar energy in the state.

Matt Moore will serve as Palmetto Conservative Solar Coalition’s chairman. The organization says it promotes energy independence and solar energy in South Carolina using principles of the free market.

Moore was chairman of the state Republican Party from 2013 to 2017.

“As a conservative, I support the free market driven by innovation,” Moore said. “I’m excited to lead the PCSC because solar energy gives people a choice to power their own homes. I’m confident that lawmakers will continue to remove ba...

(Columbia) - Today, the Palmetto Conservative Solar Coalition (PCSC) issued the following statement regarding yesterday’s news that the White House had decided to levy a 30% tariff on solar panels, as well as a tariff on washing machine parts designed to hurt Samsung, who just opened a plant in Newberry, SC, putting hundreds of local jobs at risk.

“This short-sighted decision could potentially cost thousands of jobs in South Carolina and all across our nation. On the heels of sweeping tax reform that could put millions to work, these new tariffs are now threatening our local economy. We are disappointed in this decision because we know th...