Last night in living rooms across the country millions of Americans got a much-needed update on solar energy in America. SEIA President and CEO Abigail Ross Hopper was featured on Special Report with Bret Baier, a Fox News show, to share the story of solar growth in the United States.  

This week the evening news show is featuring a five-part series called Energy in America. Wednesday night focused on the future of solar energy in the United States. Ms. Hopper represented the solar industry in the segment, highlighting the tremendous growth of solar over the past decade and what we have to look forward to as we enter the Solar+ Decade.  

“The future of solar energy is bright,” said Ms. Hopper. “It’s an American success story.” Solar energy has seen tremendous growth in the past twenty years. Much of this growth can be attributed to economies of scale, falling prices and the bipartisan solar Investment Tax Credit. Since 2006, solar deployment has grown more than 10,000%, added $140 billion in private investment to the U.S. economy and added 200,000 jobs to our workforce.  

In fact, solar energy now accounts for 2.3% of U.S. electricity generation and is expected to grow exponentially in the next decade. SEIA announced earlier this year that the 2020s are the Solar+ Decade, setting an ambitious goal for solar to reach 20% of U.S. electricity generation by 2030.  

While some misperceptions about solar and weather and available state incentives persist, solar remains a significant option for all Americans. Its tremendous growth has driven down costs and broken-down barriers for consumers across the country. SEIA is proud to represent this strong industry, and its growth will continue as we spread its story of success.