When it comes to renewable energy, Barry Goldwater Jr. is willing to admit that the Democrats did something the Republicans should have done a long time ago.

“Conservative support for green energy has always been there, but the Democrats capitalized on it more than the Republicans,” the former Republican congressman and Arizona legend told CNBC. “The Democrats did a better job of promoting it.”

As a conservative, Goldwater has become a vocal advocate for solar energy in recent years. He currently serves as the chairman of “Tell Utilities Solar won’t be Killed” (TUSK), a solar advocacy group that is pushing for energy independence across the country.