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ClimateQuiet 11d · day 14

Trump-voting states lead 71% of U.S. solar boom despite Republican opposition

A Solar Energy Industries Association report finds Republican-led states dominating solar construction even as federal tax credits expire.

newest coverage 11d agosummary written 13d ago5 pieces NewswiresGoogle NewsMastodon

What to know

  • Trump-voting states built over 70% of new U.S. solar capacity in H1 2026, driven by pro-business policies, available land, and electricity demand—not climate goals—despite Republican opposition to solar.
  • Federal solar tax credits that spurred the boom expired July 4, 2026, after Congress passed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act; rooftop solar projects have already begun declining in 2026.
  • Texas and Florida lead Trump-voting states in solar construction, joined by Indiana, Ohio, Arizona, and others in the top 10; uncertainty about the industry's future growth looms without tax credit incentives.

“Those red states are fostering solar development through their general pro-business attitude and booming electricity-hungry industries, even if they don't support solar for climate-related reasons.”

Tim Pawlenty, CEO, Solar Energy Industries Association · Grist ↗ · Sep 9

Tim PawlentyTim Pawlenty CEO, Solar Energy Industries Association; former Republican governorSolar Energy Industries Association Industry research organization

Trump-voting states lead 71% of U.S. solar boom despite Republican opposition
Grist

How it unfolded 1 development · click the chart to see its coverage articles

Peak 2 pieces in 4h at Sep 10, 11 AM; 5 pieces over 14 days (4 articles · 1 post) Sep 9, 11 PM — 1 piece · 1 article — Google News 1Sep 10, 3 AM — quietSep 10, 7 AM — quietSep 10, 11 AM — 2 pieces · 2 articles — Newswires 2Sep 10, 3 PM — quietSep 10, 7 PM — quietSep 10, 11 PM — quietSep 11, 3 AM — quietSep 11, 7 AM — 1 piece · 1 article — Newswires 1Sep 11, 11 AM — quietSep 11, 3 PM — quietSep 11, 7 PM — quietSep 11, 11 PM — quietSep 12, 3 AM — quietSep 12, 7 AM — quietSep 12, 11 AM — quietSep 12, 3 PM — 1 piece · 1 post — Mastodon 1Sep 12, 7 PM — quietSep 12, 11 PM — quietSep 13, 3 AM — quietSep 13, 7 AM — quietSep 13, 11 AM — quietSep 13, 3 PM — quietSep 13, 7 PM — quietSep 13, 11 PM — quietSep 14, 3 AM — quietSep 14, 7 AM — quietSep 14, 11 AM — quietSep 14, 3 PM — quietSep 14, 7 PM — quietSep 14, 11 PM — quietSep 15, 3 AM — quietSep 15, 7 AM — quietSep 15, 11 AM — quietSep 15, 3 PM — quietSep 15, 7 PM — quietSep 15, 11 PM — quietSep 16, 3 AM — quietSep 16, 7 AM — quietSep 16, 11 AM — quietSep 16, 3 PM — quietSep 16, 7 PM — quietSep 16, 11 PM — quietSep 17, 3 AM — quietSep 17, 7 AM — quietSep 17, 11 AM — quietSep 17, 3 PM — quietSep 17, 7 PM — quietSep 17, 11 PM — quietSep 18, 3 AM — quietSep 18, 7 AM — quietSep 18, 11 AM — quietSep 18, 3 PM — quietSep 18, 7 PM — quietSep 18, 11 PM — quietSep 19, 3 AM — quietSep 19, 7 AM — quietSep 19, 11 AM — quietSep 19, 3 PM — quietSep 19, 7 PM — quietSep 19, 11 PM — quietSep 20, 3 AM — quietSep 20, 7 AM — quietSep 20, 11 AM — quietSep 20, 3 PM — quietSep 20, 7 PM — quietSep 20, 11 PM — quietSep 21, 3 AM — quietSep 21, 7 AM — quietSep 21, 11 AM — quietSep 21, 3 PM — quietSep 21, 7 PM — quietSep 21, 11 PM — quietSep 22, 3 AM — quietSep 22, 7 AM — quietSep 22, 11 AM — quietSep 22, 3 PM — quietSep 22, 7 PM — quietSep 22, 11 PM — quietYesterday, 3 AM — quietYesterday, 7 AM — quietYesterday, 11 AM — quietYesterday, 3 PM — quietYesterday, 7 PM — quietYesterday, 11 PM — quietToday, 3 AM — quiet 1
Sep 10Sep 12Sep 14Sep 16Sep 18Sep 20Sep 22now · 6:44 AM ET
  1. 1

    Grist and Bloomberg publish Solar Energy Industries Association findings

    Reporting on the association's data shows Texas and Florida ranked first and third in solar construction among Trump-voting states, with Indiana, Ohio, Arizona, Missouri, Arkansas, Michigan, and Utah also in the top 10. Republican-leaning states' pro-business attitude, available land, and easier permitting attracted solar investment alongside electricity-hungry industries like manufacturing and data centers.

    “Red states, as a general proposition, have sort of a pro-build mentality. They want to build things.”
    — Tim Pawlenty
    1. 2 outlets States Backing Trump Make Up 71% of New Solar, Report Says

      first by Bloomberg.com, 14d ago · also Quartz

      1 more headline
    2. 1 outlet More than 70% of new solar is being built in states that voted for Trump

      first by Grist, 13d ago

    • zoocoup@mastodon.social

      “…states that voted for Donald Trump in the last presidential election counted for eight of the top 10 solar-building states in the country in the first half of the year” https:// grist.org/energy/more-than-70- of-new-solar-is-being-built-in-states-that-voted-for-trump/

      zoocoup@mastodon.socialMastodon11d agoview on Mastodon ↗
  2. background

    Federal solar tax credits expire — Most uninitiated solar farms lost their federal tax credits, prompting a final rush of construction before the deadline and creating an installation bump in Q2 2026.

  3. background

    Congress passes One Big Beautiful Bill Act, ending solar tax credits early — Congress brought an early end to solar tax credits under the new legislation, with most credits expiring July 4, 2026.

  4. background

    Congress passes Inflation Reduction Act with solar tax credits — The Inflation Reduction Act provided tax credits for energy companies investing in solar projects and homeowners buying rooftop solar.