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New Solar Installations in Maryland Double in Q3

Thursday, Dec 18 2014

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Press Release
WASHINGTON, DC - Continuing a strong year for the solar industry in Maryland, 15 megawatts (MW) of new capacity were added last quarter, nearly double the previous quarter and nearly triple the same period last year, according to the new quarterly report from GTM Research and the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA).
 
The U.S. Solar Market Insight® report found that prices across the state have fallen 15 percent over the past year, prompting nearly a thousand homeowners and businesses to install solar in just the third quarter of this year.
 
“Maryland’s solar industry is growing in a big way,” said Rhone Resch, president and CEO of SEIA. “Contributing to this rapid growth are smart and effective public policies, such as the solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC), Net Energy Metering (NEM) and Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS), which are enabling more and more Marylanders to choose clean, renewable solar energy.”
 
In 2013, $113 million was invested in Maryland to install solar for home, business and utility use, and there are currently more than 151 solar companies at work throughout the value chain in Maryland, employing 2,000 people. The 186 MW of solar energy currently installed in Maryland ranks the state 14th in the country in installed solar capacity. There is enough solar energy installed in the state to power 20,000 homes.
 
Nationwide, the solar industry employs 143,000 Americans and pumps nearly billion a year into the U.S. economy. But solar also benefits the environment.
 
“The 17,500 megawatts of solar energy currently installed across the United States can generate enough pollution-free electricity to displace 20 billion pounds of coal or 2.2 billion gallons of gasoline,” Resch added. “That’s the equivalent of removing 4.3 million passenger cars from our roads and highways. Every 3 minutes of every single day, the U.S. solar industry is helping to fight the battle against damaging carbon emissions by flipping the switch on another completed solar project.”
 
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About SEIA:
 
Celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2014, the Solar Energy Industries Association® is the national trade association of the U.S. solar energy industry. Through advocacy and education, SEIA® is building a strong solar industry to power America. As the voice of the industry, SEIA works with its 1,000 member companies to champion the use of clean, affordable solar in America by expanding markets, removing market barriers, strengthening the industry and educating the public on the benefits of solar energy. Visit SEIA online at www.seia.org.
 
Media Contacts:
 
Ken Johnson, SEIA Vice President of Communications, [email protected] (202) 556-2885 
Samantha Page, SEIA Press Officer and Communications Manager, [email protected] (202) 556-2886