The solar industry got behind Republican Gov. Charlie Baker’s re-election victory in Massachusetts on Tuesday, praising his helping them push back against Trump’s solar panel tariffs.
“From fighting solar import tariffs to signing various pieces of legislation to encourage renewable energy growth, Gov. Baker understands that solar power is a winner for the economy and the environment,” said Abigail Ross Hopper, CEO of the national Solar Energy Industries Association.
Baker is the projected winner, according to the Associated Press, with over 60 percent of the vote, beating Democratic challenger Jay Gonzalez.
The clean energy industry sees the Republican governor as the definite solar champion in the Northeast, with Hopper anticipating a “solar boom” under his administration.
Most recently, Baker’s administration helped spearhead the Solar Massachusetts Renewable Target, or SMART, program, which set up incentives to encourage renewable energy growth to bring 1,600 megawatts of solar into the state, said Hopper, responding to the vote projections.
“With the program now weeks away from opening, we are looking forward to a solar boom in Massachusetts in the months to come,” she added.
Massachusetts is the 7th largest solar state in the nation behind California, which is No. 1.
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