Federal, State & Regulatory Policy
Regardless of technology or size, every facet of the solar industry is affected by local, state and federal policy. SEIA is engaged with policymakers at the regulatory and legislative levels in Washington, D.C. and across the country to establish supportive policy frameworks that allow solar to compete in the marketplace and offer cost-competitive, reliable energy to consumers.
Rooftop Solar
Electricity produced at or near the point where it is used is called Distributed Generation (DG). Distributed solar energy can be located on rooftops or ground-mounted, and is typically connected to the local utility distribution grid. There are a wide variety of policies at the state and local level that impact distributed solar and its customers.
Utility-Scale Solar
Utility-scale solar has been generating reliable, clean energy with a stable fuel price for more than two decades. By enacting federal and state-level policies to accelerate the growth of utility-scale solar, we can create jobs nationwide and quickly diversify America’s energy portfolio.
Community Solar
Community solar has become a critical tool for bridging the gap between those who can and can't access local, affordable, clean energy.
Regulatory Policy
With the rapid growth in solar energy deployment necessary to decarbonize our economy, the industry faces new and quickly evolving needs and challenges across a wide variety of federal regulatory agencies
Tax Policy
The U.S. has a long history of supporting energy infrastructure through the U.S. tax code. The market certainty provided by the long-term solar investment tax credit (ITC) has supported private investment in manufacturing and project construction, a vital part in meeting our nation's energy policy goals, driving cost-cutting innovation and job growth.
Additional Policy Mechanisms
Federal DOE Appropriations
Learn MorePerformance-Based Incentives
Learn MoreReverse Auction Mechanism
Learn MoreWholesale Distributed Generation
Learn MoreRelated News
CPUC Decisions Imperil Rooftop Solar in California, Jeopardizing the State’s Clean Energy Goals
A series of decisions by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) are devastating the state’s rooftop solar industry. Following a December 2022 decision to transition from net metering to a new net billing structure, the CPUC has approved additional rules that make it harder than expected for solar businesses to operate and for Californians to choose solar.
CPUC Undermines the Ability of California Schools, Farms, and Small Businesses to Choose Solar
The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) approved new rules that do not allow schools, farms and small businesses to benefit from their onsite solar consumption.
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