According to the Pew Research Center, nearly 75 percent of all Americans engage regularly in social media.  And this week, SEIA was recognized for its efforts to connect with these people.

Boosted by our exploding popularity on Facebook, SEIA’s social media efforts have been ranked #1 in the nation among trade associations with up to 100 employees, according to the 2014 Social Media Report published by Association Trends, a division of Columbia Books, Inc. SEIA was also ranked #2 nationally when compared to all other energy trade associations, coming in just behind the American Petroleum Institute (API). 

Association Trends examines the best social media practices of associations and annually ranks the top 350 out of more than 17,000 diverse groups nationwide.

Managed by its award-winning communications team, SEIA’s social media efforts cover a wide range of platforms, including Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Pinterest and LinkedIn.  In its category, SEIA finished ahead of  such notable organizations as the Ladies Professional Golf Association; United States Lacrosse; the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA); the Screen Actors Guild; the Toy Industry Association; the Newspaper Association of America; the United Farm Workers of America; the National Association of Chain Drug Stores; and the Professional Bowlers Association, among others. 

This #1 ranking is reflective of the tremendous public support solar energy enjoys nationwide.  In poll after poll, 9 out of 10 Americans want to see the increased deployment of solar nationwide. Thanks, in part, to falling prices and smart public policies, such as the solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC) and Net Energy Metering (NEM), we expect to see continued strong growth for the industry next year and into 2016.

Today, the U.S. solar energy industry pumps more than $15 billion a year into the economy, while employing 143,000 Americans nationwide and helping to fight pollution.  Since the ITC was first enacted by Congress in 2006, solar installations in America have exploded, growing by more than 70-fold.  And that momentum is expected to continue with the ITC in place.  Industry forecasts project a compound annual growth rate of 33 percent from 2014 through 2016.

SEIA’s communications team was also recognized recently for its work putting together and managing our highly successful America Supports Solar campaign, which was launched earlier this year as part of National Shout Out for Solar Day.  SEIA has won a silver 2014 W3 Award for web creativity from the Academy of Interactive and Visual Arts (AIVA). With more than 4,000 entries received from across the U.S. and around the world, the annual W3 Awards honor creative excellence for websites, marketing programs, social content, mobile site/apps and online video.  This is the third major communications award won this year by SEIA.

The W3 Awards are judged and overseen by the Academy of Interactive and Visual Arts, a 600-plus member organization of leading professionals from various disciplines of the visual arts dedicated to embracing progress and the evolving nature of traditional and interactive media.  Current IAVA membership represents a "Who's Who" of acclaimed media, advertising and marketing firms, including HBO, Disney, Microsoft, MTV, Monster.com, Sesame Workshop and Yahoo.

This is a tremendous honor and reflects the true creativity, innovation and “can-do” spirit of the entire U.S. solar industry.  I want to thank Insomniac Design for being a terrific partner, and also offer my own special “shout out’” to SEIA’s in-house communications team and our PR committee for breathing life into this special project.  From coast to coast, Americans everywhere favor more solar deployment, and our America Supports Solar website captures that sentiment in a visually exciting way.  Check it out and give it a like!