Voters Know America Needs More Energy. Solar & Storage Are the Overwhelming Choice.

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Skyrocketing energy demand, unpredictable fuel prices, and scorching summer heatwaves are sending U.S. electricity bills through the roof. With just 100 days until the 2026 midterm elections, the window is closing for lawmakers to tackle rising costs before voters render their verdict at the ballot box. New polling released by POLITICO shows that half of all Americans find their utility bills are difficult or very difficult to afford.

Solar and storage are quick-to-build, reliable, and — importantly — low cost. In fact, if you were to take solar off the grid for the next 100 days — Americans would be on the hook for an additional $3 billion in fossil fuel costs.

In November, this growing crowd of cost-conscious Americans will be looking hard at policymakers’ energy agendas and putting their support behind candidates who can deliver low-cost solar and storage quickly.

The Most Popular Generation Source

An April Gallup poll found that 66% of Americans want policymakers to put greater emphasis on producing solar energy, compared to just 16% that want less emphasis. That same month, Pew Research found similar results.

Voter support for solar is not restricted to one party. The same April Gallup poll found that 87% of Democratic respondents want more solar, and several new surveys show that Republicans agree. Two polls conducted this spring by the firms of conservative pollsters Tony Fabrizio and Kellyanne Conway showed strong support for solar among President Trump’s voters, including in key swing states. Similarly, this month Cygnal found that adding more clean and renewable energy was the most popular grid fix among a wide variety of options given.

The popularity of these technologies is not theoretical. Just look at the elections that took place last November: Energy policy was a top issue for voters in Virginia, New Jersey, Georgia, and elsewhere. And consistently, the winners of these elections were supporters of building more solar and storage.

Building The Argument

In addition to being popular, solar and storage provide solutions to address many of the challenges that are top of mind for voters.

Affordability has dominated voters’ concerns in 2026, and solar and storage remain two of the most cost-effective ways to add new capacity to the grid. With no fuel costs, these sources are insulated from the volatile supply chains and international disruptions that sent oil and gas prices spiking this year. Delivering more affordable, homegrown solar energy will keep bills lower and also strengthen American energy independence.

Voters are also paying close attention to the skyrocketing energy demand caused by new data centers and manufacturing facilities.

As Republican pollster Patrick Ruffini noted in a recent op-ed, “lawmakers going home this summer do not need a better slogan on AI. They need a better answer on power.” Voters will not be satisfied with mere talking points on AI, they’re looking for clear, workable solutions that ensure the AI buildout will not spike their electricity bills. Solar and energy storage bring solutions.

Solar and energy storage can be planned and deployed in a matter of months rather than years. That’s why these two technologies have accounted for more than 80% of all new power added to the grid during the Trump administration. “AI won’t run on talking points,” Ruffini writes. “It will run on affordable, abundant electricity. The market is already pointing us toward the fastest, most affordable path to more power.”

The solar and energy storage industries are also job creators and economic drivers in states across the country. Solar and storage support hundreds of thousands of jobs and deliver billions in local investments and tax revenue. Since 2022, U.S. solar manufacturers have announced over $47 billion in new investments and over 190 new factories.

From good jobs to lower bills, solar and storage offer a powerful message for candidates this November. Campaigns that respond to voters’ concerns about energy by putting solar and storage at the center of their platforms will offer a tangible, common-sense solution that voters already support. Those that don’t risk missing the opportunity to champion America’s favorite energy source.

Article from SEIA.