Abigail Ross Hopper: Forcefully Championed U.S. Solar Power Development
Abigail Ross Hopper, the outgoing president and CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association, has been the face and voice of the influential clean power advocacy group since she took the top role in 2017, and widely credited for the sector’s huge growth over nearly a decade. In announcing her Jan. 30 exit, the group touts statistics such as solar energy rising to over 255 GW of installed capacity from 36 GW a decade ago; annual investment boosted to $70 billion from $16 billion; and the U.S. now third among countries in solar manufacturing, up from 14th, with more than 60 GW of domestic solar module production capacity, a 37% boost from December 2024.
“This growth is a testament to the power of American innovation,” said Hopper, “We’re building factories, hiring American workers and showing that solar energy means made-in-America energy.” In a podcast, Hopper noted her “incredible opportunities to work in an incredibly exciting space,” saying she was attracted by “the entrepreneurial spirit. I am amazed by the companies that I get to work with, the CEOs I get to engage with, the solar professionals who are always thinking about how to make products better, faster, smarter, cheaper, and compete like crazy with each other. I find that exhilarating to be around.”
Supporters agree. “Abby Hopper’s leadership at SEIA has been nothing short of transformative,” says George Hershman, its chairman from 2020 to 2023 and a board director since 2012. He also is a former Swinerton Construction executive who led the spinoff of its renewables units in a $2-billion private equity deal in 2021 that formed SOLV Energy, of which he is CEO. The San Diego contractor says it has built more than 20 GW of solar capacity across some 30 states and ranks at No. 66 on ENR’s list of the Top 400 Contractors, reporting $1.89 billion in 2024 revenue.
In nine years, Hopper guided the solar sector “through unprecedented growth and complex challenges, from trade disputes to landmark policy wins,” Hershman notes. “Her ability to unify diverse stakeholders … strengthened our collective voice and positioned solar and storage as cornerstones of America’s energy future.” He adds: “Her clarity, resilience and collaborative approach consistently delivered results, whether advancing tax incentives or championing equitable workforce initiatives.”
A lawyer by training, Hopper’s energy career includes roles as a state regulator, Maryland Energy Administration director and energy advisor to former state Gov. Martin O’Malley (D). She also headed the U.S. Interior Dept. unit overseeing oil and gas permitting and new offshore wind projects in the Obama administration.
Hopper battled President Joe Biden’s administration over tariffs on needed U.S. solar project components sourced in China, but also won big funding gains for the sector from the two major infrastructure bills he enacted. She has been named among The Hill’s top lobbyists since 2020 for her advocacy efforts, which included getting solar recognized as an “essential service” during the pandemic. Hopper also led new initiatives on supply chain traceability, recycling, land use and consumer protection. SEIA was named a Top Workplace by The Washington Post in 2023 and 2024.
Hopper described 2025 as “one of the most challenging periods of our industry’s history,” with Trump administration hostility to clean energy, shared by the Republican congressional majority. They added project obstacles from sunsetting federal tax incentives to new permit and other approval rules. SEIA named Darren Van’t Hof, who succeeded Hershman as chairman, as interim CEO beginning Jan. 20, until a permanent successor is determined. Says Hopper: “Our industry has the talent, the technology, the market mandate and the moral clarity to finish the job we set out to do.”