Rooftop solar adoption in the U.S. is expanding beyond wealthier households, with more middle- and low-income families benefiting from this renewable energy source.
In short:
- The median household income for new rooftop solar users dropped to $115,000 in 2023, down from $141,000 in 2010.
- Government policies, decreasing installation costs and financing options like solar leasing have made solar more affordable.
- States like Maine saw rapid growth in small-scale solar, while access still varies widely depending on location.
Key quote:
“Solar has gotten cheaper, and so that has made it more accessible to a broader swath of the population.”
— Galen Barbose, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory researcher
Why this matters:
As rooftop solar becomes cheaper and more accessible, more households can benefit from lower electricity costs and reduced emissions. Ensuring that lower-income families gain equal access supports a fair distribution of public policy benefits and accelerates the transition to clean energy.
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