By Brendan Scanland
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Solar energy advocates are warning Americans could see higher electricity bills, in part, due to clean energy rollbacks they say are squeezing supply as demand surges.
Advocates say the fight isn’t just about clean energy — it’s about pocketbook issues for families and businesses.
With electricity demand climbing, the industry warns that rolling back solar could leave Americans paying more while losing the upper hand in the clean-tech and AI race to global rivals.
The U.S. solar industry is on the rise, adding 18 gigawatts of new power in just the first half of 2025. That’s more than half of all new capacity to the grid—but momentum may be dimming.
“Demand is rising at a time when the federal government is trying to constrict supply,” said Abigail Ross Hopper, president and CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA).
She says in most markets, solar is the most affordable form of energy — and that putting more affordable supply on the grid drives down costs for everybody.
But a new report by the SEIA found that Americans are on track to face higher energy bills. The potential cost increase comes after big changes to phase out Biden-era clean energy tax credits established under the Inflation Reduction Act. The One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act, signed into law by President Donald Trump in July, phases out many of the clean energy tax credits.
“Since the passage of the Big, Beautiful Bill, we have seen a number of things happen,” said Ross Hopper. “The federal government has begun to use all the tools at its disposal to make it harder to build solar and storage projects across the country.”
Ross Hopper says the changes and other federal cuts threaten up to 55 gigawatts of solar by 2030, a 25% drop.
“You don’t have to have a policy in economics to know what happens then. Electricity prices are rising. We’ve already seen a 10% year-over-year increase in electricity prices. That’s going to continue if we continue to limit supply,” said Ross Hopper.
Solar supporters argue fast, affordable projects are key to meeting skyrocketing demand from data centers, EVs and other emerging tech. But not everyone supports using taxpayer dollars to meet that demand.
“There’s an old saying, if it’s market ready, you don’t have to subsidize it,” said Rep. Mike Kelly (R-Pa.). “I am not against solar, I’m not against wind, I’m not against any of it. But I like sustainable power, sustainable energy sources. And while that may be important right now, should we be subsidizing it? We’ve got to be careful what we’re spending money on and what we’re subsidizing.”
Solar advocates stress it’s not just a blue-state issue. 77% of all solar capacity installed this year has been built in states won by President Trump, including eight of the top 10 solar-leading states.
“The political backlash against solar and storage is impacting the very constituents that voted for President Trump,” said Ross Hopper.
