Millions of Americans across all 50 states have incorporated clean energy technologies into their lives according to Clean energy across America, a new report unveiled Wednesday by Environment America Research & Policy Center and Frontier Group. The report details that growth and recommends tips and policies to help more Americans adopt clean energy, even as federal tax credits phase out.
A previous Environment America Research & Policy Center and Frontier Group dashboard, The state of renewable energy, tracked the 10-year growth trends of six key clean energy technologies by state. By contrast, Clean energy across America focuses on the number of individual Americans by state who have adopted technologies such as electric vehicles, solar panels and home battery storage systems that have made their lives cleaner and better.
“Across the country, people have invested their own time and money to install solar panels on their roofs, put EVs in their driveways, make their homes energy efficient, or buy clean energy from their utilities,” said Emily Rusch, vice president and senior director of state offices of Environment America Research and Policy Center. “Clean energy adoption in America is a movement hiding in plain sight.”
The topline findings of the report show the wide breadth of public adoption of clean energy technologies across the United States:
- 5.8 million electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles are now registered in the U.S.
- 4.9 million American households — more than 3 percent of residential electricity customers across the country — have installed solar panels on their homes.
- 3.6 million Americans chose to purchase clean energy through their power supplier.
- In 2023, 2.3 million Americans claimed the Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit, and 1.2 million claimed the Residential Clean Energy Credit on their federal income taxes — an indicator of Americans’ adoption of energy efficiency and clean energy at home.
- More than 275,000 Americans have installed home battery energy storage systems that are connected to the electric grid. This number does not include the number of Americans who have off-grid or non-net metered energy storage systems.
“This data shows that Americans are hungry for ways to reduce the use of dirty, dangerous and costly forms of energy in their daily lives. Elected leaders can make that easier by removing unnecessary barriers,” said Tony Dutzik, associate director and senior policy analyst for Frontier Group, and a report co-author. “Common-sense steps such as instant permitting can make it easier for Americans to adopt clean energy. And when they do, they don’t just reap the benefits themselves; they help create a greener and healthier future for us all.”
To help more Americans reduce energy waste and switch to renewables, the authors offer resources, including a home winterization guide, information on how to go solar, and tips for buying a used EV.
They also recommend that federal, state and local officials:
- Eliminate onerous permitting requirements that hinder homeowners from installing solar panels, heat pumps or other clean energy technologies;
- Adequately compensate consumers who install solar panels and provide power back to the grid;
- Ensure that utility rate structures do not disincentivize the adoption of energy-saving technologies.
Americans who already have benefitted from clean energy usage want more people to join them.
“These technologies are not only good for the environment, they also make your life easier. They are good products. The induction cooktop is great, the electric car is quiet and zippy,” said Heather Sheldon, a mother of two who grew up in Missouri.
