More than 70% of new solar is being built in states that voted for Trump — SkimNews
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- Solar Energy Industries Association found in a new report that Trump-supporting states made up 8 of the top 10 solar-building states in H1 2026, per CEO Tim Pawlenty, a former Republican governor of Minnesota.
- The U.S. added more than 11 gigawatts of solar in Q2 2026, a 45% jump from Q2 2025, with Trump-voting states contributing close to three-fourths of that growth.
- Texas ranked #1 and Florida #3, while Indiana, Ohio, and Arizona have held top-ten spots since 2024 — fueled by pro-business climates, more available land, easier permitting, and surging electricity demand from new data centers and factories.
- Michigan surged from 23rd in 2024 to 4th in H1 2026, driven by a state law requiring 50% renewable power by 2030 plus data-center demand, even though the state has weaker sunlight than Sun Belt leaders.
- Congress's One Big Beautiful Bill Act ended most solar tax credits early; credits for uninitiated solar farms expired July 4, 2026, triggering a Q2 construction rush before the deadline.
- Rooftop solar installations have already begun declining in 2026 per the SEIA report, leaving future growth tied to state-level clean-energy mandates and industrial power demand rather than federal incentives.
Why it matters: With federal solar tax credits now expired and rooftop installs already falling, the industry's near-term trajectory hinges on red states' pro-build permitting and the electricity appetite of data centers and manufacturers — but states like Michigan with weaker solar resources may lose momentum if the federal subsidies aren't replaced.
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