Is Solar Dead Under Trump? What California Homeowners Need to Know
A California home with solar panels at sunset, set against a backdrop of palm trees and rising energy costs.
Federal rhetoric is heating up, but here’s what really matters for your home, your bills, and your timeline.
If you’ve seen headlines about the White House “abandoning solar,” you’re not alone. The Washington Post dropped a bombshell last week: President Trump’s Department of Energy is leaning hard into fossil fuels and painting solar as, quote, a “parasite on the grid.” Add in talk of scrapping clean energy grants, tariffs on imported panels, and a DOE chief who seems to think we should all go back to coal — and yes, people are panicking.
But here’s the thing: federal noise is not the same as local reality.
In California, solar is very much alive. It’s not dead. It’s not even on life support. It’s just under pressure — and that makes now a critical moment to act, especially if you’re hoping to lock in incentives before they vanish.
What’s Actually Happening at the Federal Level
Let’s break down the chaos:
Trump’s Energy Secretary Chris Wright dismissed solar’s potential, saying it wouldn’t be enough to power the planet “even if it blanketed the entire surface of the earth.” The claim reflects a broader anti-renewable stance, despite mounting data to the contrary.
Federal solar incentives are getting slashed. The 30% Investment Tax Credit ends December 31, 2025 for homeowners.
New tariffs on solar imports could raise equipment costs in 2026 and beyond.
Grant programs for clean energy are being pulled or frozen, especially in red states.
It’s loud. It’s messy. And it’s scaring a lot of homeowners into a “wait and see” mode.
What This Doesn’t Mean for California Homeowners
What’s happening in Washington isn’t the whole picture for California homeowners.
The ITC is still in place until Dec 31, 2025, but it now requires full system installation before that date — and time is tight.
➡️ Read: Federal Solar Tax Credit Ends December 31, 2025 — What Californians Need to KnowPG&E and SCE are still raising rates. Solar still gives you long-term bill control.
➡️ Read: Power Grab: Why Your Electricity Bill Keeps Going UpYour interconnection is still decided by your utility, not Washington. That’s where the real gatekeeping happens.
➡️ Read: Why Do Energy Companies Dictate Who Can Have Solar?
Should You Wait It Out?
No. And here’s why:
To qualify for the 30% federal tax credit, your system must be fully installed by December 31, 2025.
But let’s be honest: that’s becoming harder to guarantee by the day. Between permit delays, utility interconnection backlogs, and limited install capacity, we’re now past the point of “plenty of time.”
If you still want a shot at the full federal credit, you need to be under contract soon — and even then, there are no guarantees.
➡️ Read: Solar Financing in 2025: Don’t Wait Until It’s Too Late
Note: Viva Energy is no longer guaranteeing ITC eligibility for new residential solar installs due to timeline uncertainty. We will do everything in our power to expedite qualified projects, but final eligibility depends on project timing and utility processing beyond our control.
What About Batteries?
Federal policy hasn’t touched standalone battery incentives yet. And batteries are key to making solar pencil out under NEM 3.0. They also give you energy independence during PG&E outages, fire season, and brownouts.
➡️ Read: Do I Still Need a Generator If I Have Solar?
What You Can Do Right Now
Check if your roof qualifies.
Estimate your payback timeline.
Talk to a local expert who actually understands NEM 3.0. (That’s us.)
We’ll give you a real design based on your usage, not sales hype.
Final Take
Washington can say whatever it wants about solar. But here in California, the sun still shines, the power bills still climb, and the math still checks out — as long as you move quickly and realistically.
Waiting for things to “calm down” means giving up incentives, handing more money to PG&E, and risking being stuck on the wrong side of federal chaos.
Want to see if your home qualifies for solar and battery before time runs out?
References
Washington Post: Trump’s Energy Department Moves Away from Solar
Viva Energy: Federal Solar Tax Credit Ends December 31, 2025
Viva Energy: Power Grab — Why Your Electricity Bill Keeps Going Up
Viva Energy: Why Do Energy Companies Dictate Who Can Have Solar?
Viva Energy: Solar Financing in 2025 — Don’t Wait Until It’s Too Late