Energy Empire A Decade as Solar’s Top Lobbyist with Abby Hopper
Feb 19, 2026
Abby Hopper, former CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association who steered U.S. solar through political fights and rapid growth. She recounts career turns from firefighting to energy policy. Conversations cover rooftop solar’s reputational risks and bad sales practices. They dig into trade tensions, balancing manufacturers and utilities, and the need for stronger political and communications strategies.
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Episode notes
Control Rogue Door-to-Door Salespeople
- Track and ban repeat bad salespeople via a national registry to protect customers and reputation.
- Use consumer education, sales standards, and visible enforcement to reduce predatory practices.
Tell Members The Political Reality
- A trade association's core job is to translate political reality to members and advise action.
- Abby repeatedly briefed boards and brought state attorneys general to explain the regulatory risks.
Board Prep With Neera Tanden
- Abby brought Neera Tanden to brief SIA's board pre-2020 on likely Biden priorities: domestic manufacturing, labor, and racial justice.
- That framing proved prescient and shaped member conversations about shifting business strategies.