103. Rooftop Solar and Energy Storage Are Not Republican or Democrat, They're American

There is a common misperception that “green energy” appeals mostly to liberals. However, at least some of the facts don’t support that view. A case in point can be found in the rooftop solar sector. “It’s not Republican or Democratic. It’s really American. It’s free enterprise,” Jayson Waller, founder and CEO of POWERHOME SOLAR, said as a guest on The POWER Podcast. POWERHOME SOLAR does business in 15 states—some red and some blue—so Waller has fairly good insight on the types of people who are installing solar systems. “Both sides of the aisle are liking solar,” he said. In fact, POWERHOME SOLAR surveyed customers and found more than 60% were Republicans. Waller suggested that part of the misunderstanding is a result of the climate change debate. Yet, he doesn’t necessarily see rooftop solar as part of an environmental agenda; he implied that economics were driving growth. “What we see is more Republicans come across and understand what solar is—it’s the largest job growth the last two years in a row. They understand that it’s energy independence, and they get it.” The data seems to back Waller's view. The U.S. surpassed 3 million solar installations across all market segments during the second quarter (Q2) of 2021, according to a report issued in September by the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA). More than half of all new U.S. electric capacity additions in the first half of 2021 were from solar. Residential solar was up 46% from Q2 2020 when installations were hit hardest by the COVID-19 pandemic. The commercial and community solar segments also saw a substantial uptick in activity in Q2, increasing 31% and 16%, respectively, compared to the same quarter last year. Meanwhile, utility-scale solar set a new record for installations with 4.2 GWdc added, nearly three quarters of it in Texas, Arizona, and Florida. “I see all states really continuing to grow rooftop solar,” Waller said. “You’re seeing a lot more companies go public with it. You’re seeing a lot more loan and finance companies know that this