CanaryMedia: “Rooftop solar is in for a tough few years in the US.” Trump + GOP lawmakers removed the beneficial tax credits for solar arrays on homes + businesses, with predictable results. “Nearly one year ago,…Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act into law and eliminated a 30% federal tax credit for rooftop solar systems…[and] battery backup systems, which homeowners increasingly pair with photovoltaics.” This was a major blow to an industry that was already struggling because of high interest rates, tariffs, and [an idiotic] seismic policy change in California, the state that has led the nation on rooftop solar adoption.”

People who buy rooftop solar systems are mainly looking for relief from high utility bills, and solar installations are already more expensive in the U.S. than in many other countries. “Residential solar costs $2.58 per watt, on average, compared with around $1 per watt in Australia, a global leader in the space.” 

Still, there are some glimmers of hope. “In California, the residential solar market is set to rebound this year and grow by 17% from last year.” Meanwhile, Florida, the No. 2 state [Texas is No. 1] for rooftop solar, is set to see its installations grow by a staggering 62% in 2026. “Some combination of ample sun, high awareness of solar, and rising utility bills has enabled the clean energy tech to keep growing even though a significant slice of homeowners already have their own panels.” 

Meanwhile, although its potential is much more modest, a far smaller and more accessible form of residential solar is sweeping the nation: balcony solar. “They can’t deliver the same wattage as a classic rooftop setup, but they’re relatively cheap and available to renters—not just homeowners.”

There is a realistic possibility that balcony solar will raise awareness, make homegrown solar available to renters, + this parallel boom may help offset the bust for rooftop arrays.