Republicans aren't known as a party to be friendly to renewable energy, much less to subsidize it with taxpayer money, but wind and solar interests think they can mitigate the threat to their coffers by taking out their biggest critics in GOP primaries, The New York Times reports.

The Invest in Tomorrow Coalition PAC, funded by renewable energy developers and philanthropists, poured more than $1 million into the GOP primary for Texas attorney general to defeat Rep. Chip Roy, who tried to abolish the Biden administration's clean energy tax credits, portraying him as an obstacle to MAGA. 

State Sen. Mayes Middleton, who won the primary, had been hammering Roy with the same message, though he also sponsored legislation to frustrate wind and solar development.

While Roy told the Times the secret green barrage played "zero role" in the race, PAC leader and renewable executive Thomas Matzzie insisted it played a "small but important" role in Roy's defeat and reminded opposing lawmakers they could be taken out too.

The PAC is next trying to protect Iowa GOP Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks against primary challenger David Pautsch, who calls himself "diametrically opposed" to wind turbines and solar panels. It has already spent $150,000 on ads promoting Miller-Meeks and plans on another $100,000, which would "dwarf" Pautsch's fundraising, the Times said.

Contrary to Roy, she had asked House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., to protect $370 billion in clean energy tax credits from the Biden administration, one of only 18 Republicans to do so. Miller-Meeks eventually voted for a bill championed by President Trump eliminating nearly all clean energy subsidies.

Like its attack ads on Roy, the PAC will avoid mentioning renewables but instead portray Miller-Meeks in relation to Trump's agenda. Matzzie did not commit to backing her in a general election matchup with likely Democratic nominee Christina Bohannon, deemed a "toss up" by the Cook Political Report, the Times said.