Image source: Canva.com
The 2024 presidential election may hinge on the influence of a booming solar and energy storage industry in key swing states. With a race tightening in its final weeks, America’s rapidly expanding clean energy sector, especially in states with high stakes like Arizona, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Nevada, and North Carolina, is shaping up to be a powerful political force. According to Energy Innovation, these states will host nearly half of all newly announced clean energy manufacturing projects, underscoring the role clean energy will play in voters’ decisions.
Arizona
Solar energy’s popularity in Arizona is striking. Recent polling from SEIA shows that over 80% of Arizonans believe solar energy boosts the economy, and 70% think it can replace lost manufacturing and blue-collar jobs. New solar investments, such as Nextracker and Atkore’s expanded tracker factory and KORE Power’s battery plant in Maricopa County, are creating jobs in communities that played a pivotal role in the 2020 election, which President Biden won by a narrow margin.
Nevada
In Nevada, solar enjoys overwhelming support, with 81% of residents wanting their utility to increase its reliance on solar power. Solar-backed candidates outperform their opponents by wide margins. Polls indicate that a Democrat supporting solar policies would lead by 26 points over a Republican opponent against them. Even among GOP voters, support for solar policies is high, signaling broad, bipartisan backing.
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania, long an energy hub, is experiencing rapid growth in solar. Since 2021, the state has seen $2.4 billion in solar investments and a near-tripling of capacity. Solar jobs are increasingly vital to the state’s economy, with more clean energy workers than those in the gas sector. The Keystone State is home to new battery facilities and large-scale solar projects, solidifying its clean energy credentials.
With a close race for the White House underway, swing-state voters, especially those in solar-focused counties, may ultimately decide the election outcome. With widespread support for clean energy incentives, this solar-driven voting bloc is proving to be a formidable force in 2024’s political landscape.
Source: SEIA
