The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) has announced its board of directors for 2026, appointing Scott Moskowitz, a senior executive at Qcells, as board chair. Moskowitz steps into the position following former chair Darren Van’t Hof, who transitioned out after serving as interim President and CEO of SEIA. Complementing this leadership reorganization, Ingmar Ritzenhofen of RWE has been selected as vice chair. This restructuring arrives at a pivotal juncture for the U.S. solar sector, as the industry faces rapid technological evolution, supply chain recalibrations, and shifting policy frameworks.
Moskowitz’s appointment comes as the solar industry grapples with both infrastructure and market-level complexities. The board’s strategic guidance will be integral to navigating challenges such as scaling distributed and utility-scale solar projects, integrating advanced inverter technologies, and enhancing grid interconnection capabilities. With increasing deployment of solar-plus-storage systems and the growing role of clean energy technologies in grid modernization, strong leadership is essential to ensure industry-wide cohesion on standards, best practices, and innovation adoption.
From a policy and regulatory perspective, the SEIA board transition aligns with a critical phase of federal and state permitting reform efforts, aimed at expediting solar project approvals while addressing environmental and land-use concerns. With the Inflation Reduction Act continuing to influence investment and deployment trends, SEIA’s leadership team will also likely intensify advocacy around streamlined interconnection processes and equitable access to solar incentives, targeting barriers at regional and municipal levels. Moskowitz’s background in manufacturing and market development positions him strategically to engage with regulatory bodies and policymakers to forward policies supporting sustainable scaling.
Looking ahead, Moskowitz and the 2026 board face the challenge of sustaining momentum amid global supply chain volatility and inflationary pressures. Strategic priorities may include driving innovation in advanced photovoltaic materials, fostering expansion into underserved markets, and enhancing collaboration between private sector stakeholders and utilities to bolster grid resilience. The board’s ability to address market fragmentation and regulatory uncertainty will be crucial to unlocking the next phase of solar industry growth.
The transition in SEIA’s leadership underscores the increasing importance of coordinated, multi-stakeholder approaches to overcoming technical, regulatory, and market barriers. Related strategic areas such as grid expansion, clean energy mandates, and leveraging IRA funding remain central focus points that will shape ongoing advocacy and industry evolution under Moskowitz’s chairmanship.
