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SEIA Chief Abigail Ross Hopper to Step Down in January 2026

The trade group's board has launched a search to identify her successor.

Overview

  • Hopper announced she will leave the Solar Energy Industries Association after a nine-year tenure, with her departure effective January 30, 2026.
  • SEIA reports U.S. solar installed capacity expanded from roughly 36 GW to more than 255 GW during her leadership, with annual investment rising from about $16 billion to around $70 billion.
  • Board chair Darren Van’t Hof praised her stewardship, noting the industry’s growth of more than 600% and its emergence as a leading source of new power.
  • Her tenure featured the launch or expansion of initiatives such as the Solar Sisters network, the Solar and Storage Industries Institute, and a storage advocacy arm, alongside work on supply chain traceability, recycling, land use, and consumer protection.
  • SEIA said U.S. solar manufacturing advanced globally, with the country moving from 14th to 3rd place in manufacturing ranking.