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Byron Donalds says solar power is a 'fad' but Florida utilities are expanding its use
Despite the Trump administration’s hostility towards renewable energy, information released by the U.S. Energy Information Administration shows that utility solar capacity — large scale projects that provide electricity to power grids — has increased 33% since 2025. That’s according to the SUN DAY campaign, which tracks renewable energy nationally. The president’s signature One Big Beautiful Bill Act in 2025 removed solar power tax credits, which industry groups in Florida feared could devastate the solar industry in the Sunshine State. Trump’s pick to lead Florida for the next four years, Republican Byron Donalds, said last week that he’s not a fan of solar power and was openly dismissive of its ability to power the state. “We are in the middle of the solar fad, and I’m going to call it a fad,” he said during a campaign event in Daytona Beach Shores. “Because we know how this works,” he added. “We’ve seen these solar arrays all over the state of Florida. They’re taking land out of production and taking land off the interstate. We’ve seen how this has worked time and again. What happens very clearly is you have some power in the day, no power at night, when most people...