Trump out of step with his own MAGA voters on key energy plans

Donald appears to Trump is out of step with the majority of his own voters on key energy issues, according to survey findings reported by Axios, as he continues to "blockade" new developments.

According to the findings released on Wednesday, research firm Fabrizio, Lee & Associates found that "a big swath of [Trump's] coalition" supports solar energy products, especially ones that do not involve materials from China. The survey was conducted with what the firm called a "GOP+" sample, involving "Republicans, GOP-leaning independents and Trump voters."

The firm found that 51 percent of respondents favored "utility-scale solar," a term referring to power-plant-scale solar energy production sites that feed electricity directly to the power grid. Only 30 percent, by contrast, were opposed to the idea.

When the survey specified the idea of a plant built using panels that were not made in China, support among these conservative respondents jumped to 70 percent. A similar number, 68 percent, agreed that "all forms of electricity generation, including utility solar," are needed to meet energy demands and bring down electricity costs.

The survey was commissioned by First Solar, an American manufacturer of solar panels, casting some doubt on the objectivity of its results. One of the founders of the firm, however, is Tony Fabrizio, the "chief pollster for President Trump's campaigns," according to Axios.

"GOP+ voters want America to have energy independence and for their electric bills to be affordable," the polling memo explained. "They understand that utility solar energy is a key aspect in allowing that to happen."

These findings come as the New York Times reports that Trump has continued to "blockade" new wind and solar energy generation projects, even as experts warn that all possible forms of energy production are needed to stave off an energy affordability crisis. The Trump administration has made a habit of cutting, delaying or otherwise impeding renewable energy projects since it began last year, giving preferential treatment to non-renewable energy sources, like oil and coal.

"While Mr. Trump’s attacks on offshore wind have been highly visible, his administration has also been hobbling solar and wind energy projects on land by halting or delaying federal approvals that were once routine," the Times reported on Wednesday. "More than 60 large wind and solar farms under development on federal lands, such as Jackalope Wind, are at risk of being stymied by a pause on renewable energy permitting. But the administration is also holding up hundreds of wind and solar projects on private land that require federal consultations."

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