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Facing an uncertain future, the oil industry confronts a critical dilemma: adapt to a renewable-powered world or stay in the way of it. This echoes a similar challenge during the 1970s energy crisis when many oil companies reconsidered their business strategies and started investing in the emerging niche of renewables, such as solar, only to largely abandon it in the 1980s. By dissecting the strategies and sincerity of Exxon, Mobil, Shell, BP, Amoco, and Arco during this period, this paper delineates both commonalities and distinctions in their approach to creating a solar transition pathway. Drawing on archival accounts, annual reports, secondary literature, and several interviews, this research reveals the complexity within the oil industry, highlighting varying degrees of commitment and challenging the monolithic perception of oil industry actions.