The U.S. solar industry is embracing priorities of the incoming Trump administration as it seeks to preserve the momentum it built during the Biden administration. 

The Solar Energy Industries Association on Dec. 12 presented a comprehensive policy agenda for Trump and his fellow Republicans who soon will control both houses of Congress. 

At no point does SEIA’s new top 10 list of priorities mention solar’s environmental benefits, climate protection or reduced reliance on fossil fuels, all of which are nonstarters with many Republicans. 

Instead, it frames the continued growth of solar generation in bullet points more in line with stated GOP priorities: 

• • Achieve American energy dominance. 

• • Eliminate dependence on China. 

• • Surge American manufacturing. 

• • Meet the demands of data centers. 

• • Cut red tape. 

• • Deliver regulatory reform. 

• • Lower taxes. 

• • Support energy choice and energy freedom. 

• • Create jobs for America’s heartland. 

• • Protect private property. 

Lest the implication of “heartland” be overlooked, the smaller print points out that six of the top seven solar states are Texas, Florida, North Carolina, Arizona, Nevada and Georgia — all of which Trump carried in the 2024 election. 

There is no mention of deep-blue California, the No. 1 solar state. Also omitted are New York, Virginia and Massachusetts, which round out the top 10 and which were carried by Kamala Harris. 

SEIA President Abigail Ross Hopper emphasized energy and economics in a news release: “This is a road map for the Trump administration and Congress to capitalize on strong federal solar and storage policies and achieve their vision of a dominant American energy sector. Enacting this agenda will give the United States control of the solar supply chain and ensure American communities benefit from solar and storage jobs and economic growth.” 

What impact Donald Trump will have on the renewable energy transition in his second term as U.S. president is the subject of much speculation and trepidation within the renewables industry. He has called climate change a hoax and the IRA a scam. He has spoken repeatedly and strongly about halting offshore wind and has criticized solar at times. 

Should Trump want to limit development of renewables, he could make policy changes targeting one sector or another or he could end some of the tax credits, loan guarantees and other financial support the industry receives from the federal government. 

But as many organizations hasten to point out, the economic benefits of hundreds of billions of federal dollars that Democrats allocated for renewables have been flowing disproportionately to Republican-majority states. 

And Trump has an unpredictable leadership style with changing talking points. So, his actions in office could be more nuanced than some of his rhetoric on the campaign trail. 

SEIA also notes the U.S. solar industry grew 128% during Trump’s first term to reach 100 GW of installed capacity in 2020. 

But the rate of growth increased sharply under Biden — even amid inflation, supply chain constraints and resulting price volatility — reaching 219.8 GW of installed capacity in the third quarter of 2024. 

SEIA’s latest forecast shows 40.5 GW of total installations for all of 2024. Through the third quarter, it said, solar accounted for 64% of all new capacity added to the grid. 

The association tallies nearly 280,000 solar jobs at more than 10,000 companies in all 50 states and values the market at $63.6 billion as of 2023.