Skip to main content

Solar Industry Outlines a Policy Agenda for the Biden Administration, 117th Congress

Thursday, Nov 12 2020

Share
Press Release

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) is releasing a suite of policies and executive actions that it is asking President-elect Biden and the newly elected Congress to act on during their first 100 days in office.

The Solar Vision is consistent with our goals in the Solar+ Decade and will put America on a path to 100% clean energy. It lays out three strategic imperatives for the solar industry, each of which contain numerous policy proposals. These imperatives are developing aggressive clean energy goals and a comprehensive carbon policy; investing in modern infrastructure and the workforce needed to support it; and ensuring access for clean and competitive energy markets.

Among the policies we will be seeking most urgently is tax policy that rapidly expands the use of solar energy to help address our climate crisis, trade policy that offers clarity and predictability to our industry and permitting approvals that cut red tape and gets more solar installed quickly and at less cost.

“Our 100-day agenda aligns with President-elect Biden’s vision to build back better, and represents a critical opportunity to meet the moment of the climate era with equity and justice at the forefront,” said Abigail Ross Hopper, president and CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA). “Even as we face a likely divided government, every facet of this agenda has had bipartisan support. Now is the time to take action to generate economic opportunities for Americans in a way that promotes competition and addresses the climate crisis.”

Here are more details about our plan:

  • The first part of The Solar Vision features policies to drive solar and storage deployment and curb climate impacts. These include changes to solar tax frameworks, carbon pricing, renewable energy development on public lands, research & development, among others.
  • To ensure we have the infrastructure and workforce to reach our climate goals, the second part prioritizes support for underserved communities, workforce training, low-income access to solar, transmission planning, grid upgrades, and other critical Solar+ components such as manufacturing, electric vehicles, and remote permitting.
  • The final set of policies emphasizes the importance of fair market access, fair tax treatment, fair trade, a fair regulatory regime, and we want a level, competitive playing field for the vibrant US solar industry.

SEIA and its members will be advocating for the components of this agenda throughout the transition and first 100 days of the Biden/Harris administration.

Read The Solar Vision.

###

About SEIA®: 

The Solar Energy Industries Association® (SEIA) is leading the transformation to a clean energy economy, creating the framework for solar to achieve 20% of U.S. electricity generation by 2030. SEIA works with its 1,000 member companies and other strategic partners to fight for policies that create jobs in every community and shape fair market rules that promote competition and the growth of reliable, low-cost solar power. Founded in 1974, SEIA is a national trade association building a comprehensive vision for the Solar+ Decade through research, education and advocacy. Visit SEIA online at www.seia.org.

Media Contact: 

Morgan Lyons, SEIA's Senior Communications Manager, [email protected] (202) 556-2872

Related News

Tuesday, Feb 14, 2023

Solar and Storage Industry Reacts to EPA Guidance on Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund in the Inflation Reduction Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) provided initial details on a new program in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) called the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund. Following is a statement from Abigail Ross Hopper, president and CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) in reaction to the new guidance:

Read More
Friday, Jan 06, 2023

Solar and Storage Industry Reacts to New Greenhouse Gas Guidance from White House Council on Environmental Quality

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Statement by SEIA president and CEO Abigail Ross Hopper on the action today by the White House Council on Environmental Quality to issue guidance for agencies assessing greenhouse gas impacts in National Environmental Policy Act reviews.

Read More
Wednesday, Dec 14, 2022

Solar Industry Statement on Select Committee on the Climate Crisis Report

WASHINGTON D.C. —Today the House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis issued a report outlining recent progress made toward addressing the climate crisis and opportunities for further policy action. Following is a statement from Erin Duncan, vice president of congressional affairs for the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) on the report:

Read More