A new survey reveals that demand for renewable energy by United States consumers and businesses, along with a long-term commitment to cleaner portfolios from utilities, seems to be fundamentally shifting energy attitudes and decisions, independent of the federal government’s position.

According to Deloitte’s annual Resources 2017 Study, Energy Management: Sustainability and Progress, grid parity, driven by technological advances and plunging prices, has allowed consumers and businesses to choose clean energy over more traditional fossil-fuel options, with increasing solar use being most consumers’ top priority.

The report says that despite both overt and covert hostility to renewable energy at the federal level, the study found 37 per cent of consumers said “increasing the use of solar power” is their number one priority.

According to the Deloitte study grid parity, driven by technological advances and plunging prices, has allowed consumers and businesses to choose clean energy over more traditional fossil-fuel options.

“The demand for clean energy has passed the point of no return,” said Marlene Motyka, US and global renewable energy leader and principal, Deloitte Transactions and Business Analytics.

“It is not only political anymore. It is an economic issue.

“Green energy no longer solely means environmental concerns, ‘green energy’ also means the dollars that can be saved by investing in wind, solar and other clean energy sources.”

The report found 63 per cent of consumers were concerned about climate change, despite the decision by President Donald Trump to pull out of the United Nations sponsored Paris Agreement on climate change under the guise of “putting America first.”

Almost 60 per cent of consumers said they would switch electricity providers if they could gain access to renewable-energy sources, adding they would be willing to pay a four to eight per cent premium on their electric bills.

The report does note, however, that the need for those surcharges has also declined.

At the same time the report said the solar revolution was being driven in large part by the much-maligned “millenials.”

Almost two-thirds (64 per cent) told Deloitte they were either “extremely” or “very” interested in installing solar panels, a 611 per cent increase over last year.

More than half of them are “extremely” or “very” interested in participating in a community solar installation.

“Utilities are not only contending with demands to secure power from cleaner sources, but also the growing, significant gap in values, preferences and motivations between millennials and older age groups,” said Scott Smith, vice chairman and US power and utilities leader, Deloitte.

“This gap seems especially substantial when it comes to use of technology and social media.

“As customer expectations change and many become more active energy consumers, utilities likely need to be more flexible in tailoring service offerings to meet new demands.”

However, the good news did not just stop at consumers: businesses also wanted to get in on the action.

According to Deloitte, 60 per cent of businesses want to have some form of on-site generation, nearly double the percentage from last year.

In addition, 33 per cent said they wanted to increase self-generation, and 26 per cent said they intended to develop self-generation capabilities.

Another 35 per cent said they had considered implementing or participating in a microgrid.

“This is an exciting time as businesses of all sizes seem to be building momentum in energy management based on their consistent successes year over year,” concluded Ms Motyka.

“As companies seek to up their game to reduce energy consumption and increase use of renewable energy, it should be good news for individual businesses, their shareholders and employees, as well as their communities at large.”