Program to reduce energy consumption persuaded some Republicans to consume more

Not bad, but probably not enough to save the planet.

and

...also look for guidance from the patron saint of right-wing fundamentalists, Rush Limbaugh

I decided that the piece isn't interested in any objective analysis.

I'd like to offer an additional explanation for the phenomenon that doesn't seem to be considered: the distributed flyers revealed to those Republicans that the high-and-mighty Democrats talked a good game about conservation, but were actually burning more power than those GOPers. Now convinced that the environmentalists are hypocrites, they say "screw it".