Solar Trade Groups Have Merged Operations
The Solar Energy Industries Association and Coalition for Community Solar Access have combined their advocacy efforts.
Updated on Oct. 7, 2026 in Energy
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The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) and the Coalition for Community Solar Access (CCSA) have merged to create a unified industry voice. The organizations formed a new Distributed Power working group to manage community solar advocacy across the United States.
Why it matters
The merger aims to provide the solar industry with a stronger, consolidated platform to navigate complex state and federal policy landscapes. Unified advocacy is viewed as essential for addressing systemic challenges like grid interconnection bottlenecks.
The community solar sector has grown from 150MW to over 10GW in ten years. Currently, 80% of energy projects are withdrawing from U.S. grid queues as of 2024, highlighting the industry's significant infrastructure hurdles.
The players
Solar Energy Industries Association
This national trade association represents the solar energy industry in the United States.
Coalition for Community Solar Access
This organization advocates for the expansion of community solar energy programs.
Gavin Newsom
He is the current Governor of California who recently vetoed AB 1813.
The details
The boards and memberships of both the SEIA and CCSA approved the merger to pool their advocacy resources. This integration includes the establishment of a Distributed Power working group to oversee community solar initiatives.
Timeline
80% of energy projects withdrew from grid queues in 2024.
California Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed AB 1813 in September 2026.
The PV CellTech USA conference will occur October 13-14, 2026.
The Big Picture
This consolidation follows the patterns seen in the debate over California AB 1813, which was recently vetoed by Governor Gavin Newsom. The merger marks a paradigm shift in how private industry organizations coordinate to influence state-level solar policy.
A more unified advocacy voice could eventually lead to more efficient grid interconnection processes for new solar installations. Consumers may see increased access to community solar programs as the industry works to streamline state and federal regulations.
The takeaway
The consolidation of these trade groups highlights the industry's need to present a cohesive front to overcome severe infrastructure and grid access barriers. Readers should anticipate that future energy policy discussions will be driven by this singular, combined advocacy body.
What happens next
The PV CellTech USA conference in San Francisco will assess the national policy landscape on October 13-14, 2026.
Further reading
For more on the changing landscape of power generation, visit the Energy section.
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Do you trust that larger trade associations accurately represent the needs of your local community?
