Barry M. Goldwater Jr. has a problem with fellow conservatives and utility executives in Michigan.

Goldwater Jr., 77, told me in an interview this week that he is upset with Michigan Republican legislators who he says want to discard the state’s successful net metering law that has helped to create jobs and a booming yet fledgling industry for rooftop solar projects on residential homes, churches and small businesses.

The son of one of the icons of the Republican Party – five-term Sen. Barry Goldwater of Arizona, Cold War warrior and Republican presidential nominee in 1964 – Goldwater says Michigan conservatives have it all wrong.

Goldwater contends the legislative effort in Michigan to pay rooftop solar owners less for the power they generate and ignore the contributions they are making to increase reliability and electricity on the grid is similar to one playing out in at least 15 other states.

“You might say there is a conspiracy of some sorts,” said Goldwater, who was a U.S. congressman representing California from 1969 to 1983. He served on many energy, science and technology committees during his career.

“Utilities talk with each other. They are on the same page. They don’t like competition and are doing everything to slow (rooftop solar) down,” said Goldwater, who also is chairman of Tell Utilities Solar won’t be Killed (TUSK), a group speaking out against proposed legislation in Michigan, Indiana, Kentucky, Wisconsin, Florida and 11 other states that they believe would gut the rooftop solar market.

TUSK is partially supported by the Alliance for Solar Choice, which includes as members rooftop solar companies such as SunRun, SolarCity, Solar Universe and Verengo.

“My criticism of the utility business and all big monopolies that dominate is they stop progress and defend their position,” Goldwater said. “They spend money on lobbyists and politicians instead of being out front to back future energy sources.”

Goldwater believes the U.S. is “foolhardy to continue to burn scarce resources that will eventually be depleted and pollute the air and water.”

Besides solar, wind, geothermal and hydroelectric, Goldwater said there are many new alternative sources of power on the table and in development to replace fossil fuels. His favorite seems to be hydrogen fuel cells.

“Hydrogen will be a major force. Toyota, GM and other companies are investing in it,” he said. “Today, we are talking about the sun, trying to utilize that as much as possible to replace fossil fuel.”

Back in the 1970s, said Goldwater, Republicans and Democrats agreed to support numerous research and demonstration projects that led development of solar cells and panels, electric vehicles, geothermal energy, and even the “breeder reactor.”

But Goldwater now says some conservatives have lost their way when it comes to renewable energy, and especially rooftop solar projects.

“The question always is: Why would a conservative Republican be supporting rooftop solar? Why? It is a good, clean source of energy. It comes from the sun, so it is renewable,” he said.

But from a conservative standpoint, Goldwater believes rooftop solar is an expression of individuality, freedom and liberty.

“The genius of our founding fathers is their support of individual interest,” Goldwater said. “We advocate as much freedom from government from taxes as possible. Solar energy fits in with that philosophy.”

A few days after Goldwater’s TUSK group came out with a news release criticizing Republican and utility efforts to change net metering laws, Citizens for Michigan’s Energy Future, a utility-funded front group, lashed out at the former congressman.

“(Goldwater) is deliberately misleading Michigan residents about solar energy policies in Michigan,” said CMEF through chief spokeswoman Kelly Rossman-McKinney in a statement. “(He) is the chairman for Arizona-based Tell Utilities Solar won’t be Killed (TUSK), an out-of-state front group making false claims about Michigan’s solar policy in an effort to open Michigan’s market to out-of-state special interests.”

But other conservative organizations in Michigan have come out in support of existing net metering laws and against S.B. 438. They include the Michigan Conservative Energy Forum and director Larry Ward; the Michigan Christian Coalition and leader Keith den Hollander; and the Green Tea Coalition and leader Debbie Dooley.