Oct 21 (Reuters) - The longtime head of the top U.S. solar industry trade group will step down next year, the organization said in a statement on Tuesday.

Abigail Ross Hopper will leave her post as president and CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association on January 30. SEIA has launched a search for her successor.

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Hopper's departure after nine years as the U.S. solar industry's top lobbyist comes as the Trump administration has sought to curb the expansion of solar and other forms of renewable energy.

"This year has been challenging for our industry, but I remain optimistic about our future," Hopper said in an open letter to the industry posted on SEIA's website. "SEIA is stronger than ever, led by an extraordinary team and a deeply engaged board. Our industry has the talent, the technology, the market mandate, and the moral clarity to finish the job we set out to do, delivering clean, affordable, reliable energy that serves as the foundation of America’s economic future."

Since Trump took office, SEIA has sought to portray solar as a domestic jobs engine that can help meet soaring power demand, downplaying its role in combatting climate change.

During Hopper's tenure, the U.S. solar industry soared to $70 billion in annual investment from $16 billion in 2017, SEIA said. Solar energy now accounts for most of the new electricity generation added to the U.S. grid.

Hopper has also grappled with challenges such as the imposition of tariffs meant to reduce the industry's reliance on cheap foreign-made panels, concerns about forced labor in the solar supply chain and reforms to residential solar incentives that have slowed that market.

https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/climate-energy/abby-ross-hopper-top-us-solar-lobbyist-will-step-down-next-year-2025-10-21/