Marcus Chen, a factory manager in Columbus, Ohio, never considered himself an environmentalist. He votes Republican, served in the military, and cares most about whether his paycheck stretches far enough at the end of the month. So when pollsters called him this spring, he told them something that might surprise people in Washington: he wants more solar panels across America.
"I'm not doing this for the planet," Chen said. "I'm doing this because my electric bill keeps going up, and solar actually helps with that."
Chen's answer reflects something remarkable happening across the country. A new Gallup poll found that 66% of all Americans — Democrats and Republicans alike — want the nation to put greater emphasis on solar energy. That's nearly two out of every three people.
The numbers cross party lines in a way few issues do. Among Democrats, 87% support expanding solar power. But here's the surprising part: major surveys conducted by conservative pollsters Tony Fabrizio and Kellyanne Conway found strong solar backing among voters who supported President Trump, including in crucial swing states. Another poll by the firm Cygnal found that adding more clean energy was the most popular option when Americans were asked how to fix the power grid.
This isn't just about opinions — it's already showing up at the ballot box. In elections last November across Virginia, New Jersey, and Georgia, candidates who supported building more solar and storage won. Energy policy became a top issue, and voters chose leaders who promised affordable, homegrown power.
The technology is part of why. Solar and energy storage can be planned and built in just months, not the years required for fossil fuel plants. That speed has made them the dominant force in America's energy growth: during the current presidential administration, solar and storage accounted for more than 80% of all new power added to the nation's grid.
The economic numbers are striking too. Since 2022, American solar manufacturers have announced over $47 billion in new investments and opened more than 190 new factories. Those factories mean real jobs — welding, electrical work, engineering — in communities coast to coast.
For families worried about their monthly bills, solar offers something rare: protection from global chaos. Unlike oil and gas, which depend on unpredictable international markets, sunshine is free and American. If solar panels disappeared from the grid for just 100 days, experts estimate Americans would pay an extra $3 billion in fossil fuel costs.
As Republican pollster Patrick Ruffini put it: "Lawmakers going home this summer do not need a better slogan on AI. They need a better answer on power."
With energy demand surging from new data centers and factories, voters want solutions — not talking points. Solar and storage offer exactly that: an American energy source that's quick to build, cheap to run, and supported by an overwhelming majority of the people who will vote this November.