The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) has introduced a comprehensive policy agenda aimed at enhancing the reliability and security of the U.S. electric grid through the expanded deployment of solar energy and energy storage systems. Titled the Solar and Storage Industry Policy Agenda for a Reliable, Secure Grid, the initiative outlines strategic actions for local, state, and federal leaders to modernize energy infrastructure and support the development of domestic supply chains.
Key components of SEIA’s policy Agenda
The agenda emphasizes several critical areas to bolster grid resilience and accommodate the growing demand for electricity, particularly from artificial intelligence (AI) and data centers:
- Domestic supply chains and traceability standards: Advocating for the development of robust domestic supply chains and the establishment of traceability standards for solar and energy storage products and components.
- Regulatory fast tracks for high-growth zones: Proposing the creation of regulatory fast tracks for solar and storage projects co-located in high-growth load zones to address the energy demands of AI and data centers.
- Interconnection process reforms: Recommending reforms to interconnection processes to reduce costly delays and expedite the integration of solar and storage systems into the grid.
- Transmission infrastructure modernization: Calling for the modernization of transmission infrastructure to expand the grid’s capacity to transmit more electricity efficiently.
- Investment in long-duration storage: Encouraging investment in long-duration storage technologies by fostering new research and deployment strategies.
- Wholesale market design reforms: Advocating for reforms in wholesale market design to properly account for the value that solar and storage bring to the grid.
- State utility resource planning reforms: Proposing reforms in state utility resource planning to evaluate solar and storage as capacity and energy resources that support grid reliability.
- Incentivization of distributed energy resource programs: Promoting the incentivization of distributed energy resource programs, including unlocking virtual power plants, to strengthen both local and bulk power grids.
Industry support and advocacy
Abigail Ross Hopper, President and CEO of SEIA, emphasized the urgency of these measures, stating, “The reliability of our electric grid, and America’s ability to meet future energy demand, depend on adding more solar and storage to the energy mix.” She further highlighted that reliable, low-cost solar and storage currently account for the vast majority of new power generation being built in the United States.
In alignment with this agenda, SEIA launched a grassroots advocacy campaign in July 2025, mobilizing Americans nationwide to urge state officials to support policies that strengthen the reliability and security of the electric grid by investing in solar and storage technologies.
As the demand for electricity continues to rise, particularly with the proliferation of AI and data centers, SEIA’s policy agenda provides a roadmap for integrating solar and storage solutions into the U.S. energy infrastructure. By addressing key areas such as supply chain development, regulatory processes, and grid modernization, the initiative aims to ensure a reliable, secure, and sustainable energy future for the nation.
For more information on SEIA’s policy agenda and advocacy efforts, visit SEIA’s official website.