Image: SEIA

The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) has released a new policy agenda focused on enhancing electric reliability in the United States.

Titled the “Solar and Storage Industry Policy Agenda for a Reliable, Secure Grid,” the plan outlines specific actions for local, state, and federal leaders to modernize energy infrastructure, support domestic supply chains, and accelerate deployment of solar and storage technologies, including investments in battery storage and other advanced solutions.

Key Elements of SEIA’s Reliability Policy Agenda

· Supporting domestic supply chains and traceability standards for solar and energy storage products and components

· Meeting energy demand from AI and data centers by creating regulatory fast tracks for solar and storage projects in high-growth load zones

· Reforming interconnection processes to reduce delays and accelerate grid integration of solar and storage

· Modernizing transmission infrastructure to expand the grid’s capacity to transmit more electricity

· Investing in long-duration storage through new research and deployment strategies

· Reforming wholesale market design to properly value the contributions of solar and storage

· Updating state utility resource planning to evaluate solar and storage as capacity and energy resources supporting reliability

· Incentivizing distributed energy resource programs, including unlocking virtual power plants to strengthen local and bulk power grids

“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,” said Abigail Ross Hopper, president and CEO of SEIA. “Today, reliable low-cost solar and storage account for the vast majority of the new power generation being built in America.”

Hopper emphasized that to remain competitive in the AI-driven economy, policymakers must implement practical strategies to strengthen the grid and speed up solar and storage deployment. Doing so will help meet surging energy demand while keeping household power costs lower.

In July, SEIA also launched a grassroots advocacy campaign encouraging Americans nationwide to urge state officials to adopt policies that invest in solar and storage and enhance the reliability and security of the U.S. electric grid.