“Georgia’s solar industry is growing in a big way, and it's part of a national trend,” said Rhone Resch, president and CEO of SEIA. “Contributing to the rapid growth of solar are smart and effective public policies, such as the solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC), Net Energy Metering (NEM) and Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS). Additionally, we believe solar can be a real game changer for Georgia in the future, as it looks for ways to meet new obligations under the EPA’s Clean Power Plan.”

 

In 2013, Georgia was the fastest-growing solar market in the nation, moving from 20th to 7th in yearly installations. While the Georgia solar industry is just beginning to take off, there are already more than 167 solar companies employing more than 2,600 people throughout the value chain in Georgia, including manufacturers, distributors and installers.

 

In 2013, $189 million was invested in Georgia to install solar for home, business and utility use. This is nearly nine times as much as in the previous year and is expected to grow again in 2014. The 141 MW of solar energy currently installed in Georgia ranks the state 15th in the country in installed solar capacity. There is enough solar energy currently installed in the state to power 15,300 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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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.

 

 

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