WASHINGTON, D.C. — When I think about American manufacturing, I think of Ohio. From automobiles to agricultural equipment, Ohioans build the things that keep our country running.
Today, Ohio — energized by historic federal clean energy policies — is building on its legacy of industrial innovation as a leading manufacturing hub for one of the most strategically important technologies of the 21st century: solar and energy storage.
The United States is consuming more electricity than ever before, and with the growth of artificial intelligence, data centers and home electrification, we need power, and a lot of it.
Two years ago, Congress enacted new clean energy policies to drive investments in American solar and storage manufacturing to meet our energy needs with home-grown technology. The market has responded. Solar panel manufacturing capacity has tripled in the last two years, according to data compiled by the Solar Energy Industries Association, the trade association I lead, and by 2033, America’s solar manufacturing workforce will grow to 100,000 workers — roughly equal to the size of the computer manufacturing sector.
In just two years, these policies have helped generate over $100 billion in investment across the solar industry, from manufacturing to project development. Many of these investments are happening in Ohio as businesses seize the opportunity presented by federal clean energy policies to bolster the state economy.
In February, Illuminate USA’s new factory in Pataskala, Ohio, began operating, and First Solar is undergoing a multibillion-dollar expansion that will create thousands of manufacturing jobs for Ohioans. Solar racking manufacturers like Terrasmart are also headquartered in Ohio and supporting the state’s booming solar economy. Today, Ohio’s solar industry boasts more than 7,500 jobs, including nearly 2,000 manufacturing jobs.
In addition to delivering jobs, local tax revenue, and economic benefits, growing domestic solar and storage manufacturing is an investment in American energy independence and national security. China has long dominated the solar supply chain, but Ohio’s leadership is helping the United States take back market share and ensuring we can meet our energy goals with American-made solar.
Solar is not a partisan issue, despite the many voices out there that are trying to make it political. Some politicians may talk and bluster as the election approaches, but the truth is that solar is one of the most popular energy sources in the United States. Repealing the policies that are driving clean energy investments in states like Ohio would be a major mistake, and lawmakers know it.
The first quarter of 2024 marked the largest quarter of solar manufacturing growth in American history, with 11 gigawatts of new capacity coming online. A savvy lawmaker will not undermine that progress and the billions of investment dollars that are flowing into their states and districts.
If we stay the course with federal clean energy policies, the solar industry will add nearly half a trillion dollars to the U.S. economy over the next decade, and America will position itself as a solar manufacturing powerhouse. This American energy dominance is directly in line with the vision that Ohio Senator and Republican vice-presidential nominee JD Vance outlined in his Republican National Convention speech.
Solar allows homes and businesses to take control of their energy needs, offering energy freedom and security that no other energy technology can match. It creates a more resilient and reliable electric grid, and clean, low-cost energy that allows our communities to breathe cleaner air and lead healthier lives.
We must protect and optimize the policies that are driving these investments and creating jobs for Ohioans and Americans nationwide.
Abigail Ross Hopper is the president and CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), the national trade association for America’s solar and storage industry.
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