States that supported Donald Trump in the last presidential election are currently at the forefront of solar energy adoption in the United States. Despite increasing Republican opposition to solar energy, including the Trump administration’s restrictions on solar projects on federal land and Congress reducing federal tax credits, a recent report by the Solar Energy Industries Association highlights that eight out of the top ten states for solar development voted for Trump.
“At least at the macro level, Republican-led and governed states are not only open to but embracing solar energy as a technology,” said Tim Pawlenty, CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association and a former Republican governor of Minnesota.
The surge in solar construction within these Trump-supporting states has significantly contributed to the rapid growth of solar energy across the nation. The U.S. added over 11 gigawatts of solar power in the second quarter of 2026, marking a 45 percent increase from the same period in 2025. Trump-supporting states accounted for nearly 75 percent of this growth.
Texas and Florida, the most populous Trump-supporting states, ranked first and third in solar construction, respectively. Indiana, Ohio, and Arizona have consistently ranked in the top ten solar-building states since 2024, while Missouri, Arkansas, Michigan, and Utah have also made appearances in the top ten during various years.
These states promote solar development due to their favorable business conditions and growing energy-intensive industries, despite not always supporting solar for environmental reasons. According to Pawlenty, Republican-leaning states often offer more land and streamlined permitting processes, attracting industries that consume significant electricity and drive demand for affordable and quickly deployable energy sources like solar.
“Red states, as a general proposition, have sort of a pro-build mentality. They want to build things,” Pawlenty said.
However, the future of solar energy in these states faces uncertainties. The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 provided tax credits for solar investors and homeowners, but the subsequent One Big Beautiful Bill Act ended these credits prematurely. As of July 4, 2026, credits for most new solar farms had expired, prompting a rush in construction before the deadline, which spurred a spike in installations in the second quarter of 2026. The absence of tax credits may cast doubt on future growth, particularly for rooftop solar projects, which have already seen a decline in 2026, according to the solar industry report.
This uncertainty varies among Trump-voting states. While Texas maintains its leading role in solar development, ranking first in 2024, 2025, and the first half of 2026, Michigan has recently emerged as a solar leader. The state climbed from 23rd place in 2024 to fourth in the first half of 2026, marking its first appearance in the top ten.
Michael Craig, an associate professor at the University of Michigan’s School for Environment and Sustainability, questioned whether Michigan can sustain its solar energy growth without federal tax credits. He noted that solar farms might remain economically viable only in regions with favorable weather conditions.
“The economics of solar largely depends on your solar resource,” said Craig. “The better the resource, I’d say the less important the tax credits are.”
Without federal tax credits, Michigan’s solar industry is likely to rely on state-level clean energy goals, which require utilities to produce 50 percent of their power from renewable sources by 2030. This mandate, combined with demand from data centers, has likely contributed to Michigan’s rapid solar growth, Craig said.
Some strategists argue that the solar industry needs streamlined federal permitting processes and sustained power demand more than tax credits to continue expanding. Even without reinstating tax credits, these factors could drive industry growth because solar installations can be completed faster than other energy sources. Rachel Skaar, communications director for the Solar Energy Industries Association, emphasized the speed at which solar and storage technologies can be deployed to meet immediate energy needs.
“Solar and storage can deploy so much faster than other technologies,” Skaar said. “So when we talk about the need for energy right now, solar and storage can provide it.”
