Solar Policy Just Shifted. Here’s What Solar Contractors and Career Changers Need to Know

The Rules Just Changed. Here’s What to Do About It.

By now, most folks in solar have seen the shift firsthand — canceled jobs, pricing pressure, sourcing delays, permit offices jammed with last-minute applications. It all came to a head on July 4, when President Trump signed the so-called “One Big Beautiful Bill.”

For those of us who’ve been on the solar coaster for years, none of this is exactly surprising. Markets shift. Incentives tighten. We’ve ridden it up and down before — and we’ll do it again. But this time, the drop is steeper, and the margin for error is thinner.

What’s Actually Changed?

You’ve probably already read the SEIA breakdown, but here’s what matters most for anyone actually doing the work:

• The 25D residential tax credit — the one that gives homeowners 30% off — ends December 31, 2025. If the system isn’t built and inspected by then, it doesn’t qualify. Most of those jobs are already underway.

• The 45Y and 48E commercial credits stay in play if construction starts before July 4, 2026, or systems are live by end-of-2027. That’s a tight window — especially when sourcing and scheduling get tough.

• Starting January 2026, any system with components tied to foreign-influenced entities loses federal tax credit eligibility. If you’re going for the 45X Advanced Manufacturing Credit, your panels need to be 65% U.S.-made by cost. Is that even feasible at scale? That’s the challenge.

There’s no grace period. No wiggle room. And no one’s bailing us out. This is the new terrain.

So, What Should You Actually Be Doing?

If you’re still chasing new residential jobs, the window’s closing — fast. The real priority is finishing what’s already on the books. Get the steel in the ground. Get your inspections done. Get those systems turned on before year-end.

Beyond that, it’s time to prep for what’s next. Those who thrive in 2026 won’t be the cheapest — they’ll be the most fluent. The ones who know the code, the sourcing rules, the storage pathways, and how to lead a team through it all.

If you’ve been meaning to:

• Get those NABCEP certification CEUs to maintain your credentials
• Learn the future with battery storage, code updates, and domestic sourcing
• Cross-train your team to be sharp on 45X and FEOC compliance

Do it now — not when things slow down.

We’ve all seen what happens to the contractors who wait too long.

🔧 Mayfield Education Summit — Real Training for a Real Market

I’ve worked with Ryan Mayfield for years. If you’ve trained with him, you know — their team is sharp, experienced, and no fluff. This October, Mayfield Renewables is hosting a summit in Seattle that’s exactly what this moment calls for.

Mayfield Education Summit
📅 October 15–16, 2025
📍Bell Harbor International Conference Center - Seattle WA
➡️ RSVP Here

Topics include:

• Storage system design and fire code updates

• Navigating 45Y/48E/45X incentive changes

• Hands-on workshops for installers, PMs, and system designers

• Policy strategy you can actually use in the field

Whether you’re leading a crew or designing your own installs, this is how you stay sharp.

🌞 New Free NABCEP CEU Course Dropping Soon

Waivolt by Rose City Robotics also launching a short, focused, no-cost course in early September – its not the full 40-hour NABCEP course we've been building towards but it is the first of 5 sections of it and will include NABCEP CEUs free.

Watch your inbox or follow us on LinkedIn for the launch.

If you’ve been in the industry long enough, you already know: the solar coaster doesn’t stop. It just shifts tracks.

And yes — the industry will be back someday. Probably with a vengeance. But until then?

Make hay while the sun is still shining.
Sharpen your skills.
Because winter’s coming — and you know the drill.