Abigail Ross Hopper named as SEIA’s president and CEO

January 9, 2017
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email
Hopper joins SEIA after serving as director of BOEM where she was responsible for leasing oil, gas and offshore wind projects. Source: Bureau of Ocean Energy Management

Abigail Ross Hopper has been named the Solar Energy Industries Association’s (SEIA) new president and CEO. She will assume her position on the 17 January.

She replaces Rhone Resch, who stepped down in May after 12 years' leading the association.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Try Premium for just $1

  • Full premium access for the first month at only $1
  • Converts to an annual rate after 30 days unless cancelled
  • Cancel anytime during the trial period

Premium Benefits

  • Expert industry analysis and interviews
  • Digital access to PV Tech Power journal
  • Exclusive event discounts

Or get the full Premium subscription right away

Or continue reading this article for free

Hopper joins SEIA from the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), where she worked on federal energy policy. Prior to her role at BOEM, Hopper led the Maryland Energy Administration (MEA), taking on a range of policy roles including serving as energy advisor to former governor Martin O'Malley.

“I am thrilled to lead the Solar Energy Industries Association,” Hopper said. “I have spent my career working with all sides of the political and ideological spectrum to arrive at pragmatic approaches to energy policy. I look forward to utilizing that experience to serve our SEIA members.”

SEIA board chairman Nat Kreamer said Hopper was chosen in part for her “bridge-building talents.” Hopper joins the SEIA at a crucial time; characterised by both unprecedented solar growth, and federal opposition, with the president-elect deeming the technology “too expensive”.

Tom Kimbis, who served as interim president since the end of May has been appointed executive vice president and general counsel. 

16 June 2026
Napa, USA
PV Tech has been running PV ModuleTech Conferences since 2017. PV ModuleTech USA, on 16-17 June 2026, will be our fifth PV ModulelTech conference dedicated to the U.S. utility scale solar sector. The event will gather the key stakeholders from solar developers, solar asset owners and investors, PV manufacturing, policy-making and and all interested downstream channels and third-party entities. The goal is simple: to map out the PV module supply channels to the U.S. out to 2027 and beyond.

Read Next

October 23, 2025
US solar manufacturer T1 Energy sold approximately 725MW of solar modules in Q3 2025, as it continues to expand US manufacturing capabilities.
October 22, 2025
Recurrent Energy, Ampliform and Dimension Energy have announced new financing rounds this month for US solar projects.
October 22, 2025
Leeward Renewable Energy has started commercial operations at its 177MW Ridgely solar project in the US state of Tennessee.
October 22, 2025
US thin-film manufacturer First has revealed another transfer of its 45X manufacturing tax credits in a deal worth around US$775 million.
October 22, 2025
Abigail Ross Hopper, the president and CEO of US trade association the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), has decided to step down from her roles at the end of January 2026.
October 21, 2025
Cypress Creek Renewables has achieved financial close on its 75MW Sundance solar-plus-storage project in Elbert County, Colorado.

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Solar Media Events
November 25, 2025
Warsaw, Poland
Solar Media Events
December 2, 2025
Málaga, Spain
Solar Media Events
February 3, 2026
London, UK
Solar Media Events
March 10, 2026
Frankfurt, Germany
Solar Media Events
March 24, 2026
Lisbon, Portugal