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SEIA Warns Political Attacks on Clean Energy Threaten Half of U.S. New Power Capacity​

Washington, D.C. – November 11, 2025– The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) issued a dire warning today that escalating political attacks on renewable energy policies are jeopardizing nearly 50% of America’s planned new electricity generation, potentially triggering widespread energy shortages and economic instability. The group’s latest analysis highlights how proposed legislative changes and regulatory rollbacks could cripple the solar industry, destabilize the grid, and deepen reliance on volatile fossil fuels.

Policy Shifts Endangering Energy Security​

The SEIA’s report, Energy at Risk: How Politics Threatens America’s Power Future, identifies three key policy threats:
  1. Tax Credit Elimination: The House-passed reconciliation bill proposes repealing critical tax incentives, including the Section 25D residential solar credit and the 48E/45Y investment credits. SEIA estimates this could reduce solar deployment by 40% by 2030, eliminating $220 billion in investments and delaying 116 GW of planned capacity—equivalent to 58% of all new U.S. power projects.
  2. Tariff Escalation: New anti-dumping duties on Southeast Asian solar imports and retroactive tariffs on existing projects have already spiked module costs by 30%, with residential systems now 10% more expensive than pre-2024 levels.
  3. Federal Permitting Delays: Over 50 solar projects totaling 8 GW face indefinite delays due to expanded environmental reviews under the Biden administration’s “grid resilience” mandates, with Texas and Florida—key Republican strongholds—bearing the brunt.

Economic and Grid Implications​

The SEIA warns that these policies risk:
  • Job Losses: 280,000 solar manufacturing and installation jobs at stake, 80% concentrated in states that voted for Trump in 2024, including Texas (12,000 jobs), Florida (9,500), and Ohio (6,200).
  • Energy Shortages: By 2030, the U.S. could face a 173 TWh annual shortfall—enough to power 16 million homes—driving electricity prices up by $51 billion and increasing blackout risks in data center-heavy regions like Virginia and North Carolina.
  • Grid Resilience: Solar and storage now provide 82% of new U.S. capacity, but policy uncertainty has stalled 41 GW of planned battery storage, leaving the grid vulnerable to extreme weather and AI-driven demand spikes.

Industry Leaders Sound the Alarm​

Abigail Ross Hopper, SEIA president, criticized lawmakers for prioritizing “short-term political gains over long-term energy security”:
“This isn’t just an attack on solar—it’s an attack on American families, businesses, and our ability to compete globally. Without urgent action, we’ll cede leadership to China in the AI energy race while paying exorbitant bills for outdated fossil fuels.”
The group’s warnings align with recent data:
  • Solar accounted for 98% of new U.S. capacity in Q1 2025, but Q2 installations fell 19% due to permitting bottlenecks and tariff hikes.
  • Utility-scale solar projects in Republican-led states face 22% higher costs than Democratic states, undermining Trump’s “energy dominance” agenda.

Regional Impact: Red States at Greatest Risk​

The SEIA’s analysis reveals a paradox: 80% of at-risk solar jobs and factories are in states that supported Trump’s 2024 campaign. For example:
  • Texas: 42% of planned solar capacity (6.8 GW) could be canceled, threatening $9 billion in investments and 15,000 jobs.
  • Florida: 3,200 jobs and $4.1 billion in exports are at jeopardy due to delays at 19 solar facilities.
  • Indiana: New environmental regulations have put a stop to a 1.2 GW solar project that was planned for Kokomo, a district that leans Trump.

Call for Bipartisan Solutions​

SEIA is urging Congress to:
  1. Restore Tax Credits: Eliminate clauses that undermine solar incentives for homes and businesses.
  2. Simplify Permitting: Accept the 270-day grid project timetable suggested by FERC.
  3. Eliminate Retaliatory Tariffs: Remove Section 201 trade restrictions on photovoltaic components.
Senator Tina Smith (D-MN), a vocal advocate for clean energy, echoed SEIA’s call:
“We can’t have energy policy dictated by ideology. Solar is the cheapest, fastest way to power our economy—and harming it hurts every American.”

Consumer and Corporate Fallout​

  • Households: Solar adoption costs could rise by $12,000 per household without tax credits, pricing out middle-class families.
  • Businesses: Tech giants like Google and Amazon face 25% higher energy costs for data centers, threatening their net-zero pledges.
  • Investors: Morgan Stanley downgraded solar ETFs by 15% after the SEIA’s report, citing regulatory uncertainty.

Conclusion: A Crossroads for U.S. Energy​

The SEIA’s analysis highlights a crucial point: the United States runs the risk of losing its lead in renewable technologies and escalating energy disparity if bipartisan action is not taken to safeguard clean energy regulations. According to Hopper, “The choice is stark: embrace innovation or return to the failed energy policies of the past.”
Post time: Nov-11-2025
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