March 28, 2013 – Albany, NY – Governor Cuomo’s NY-Sun Competitive PV Program is drawing strong participation from New York energy customers and solar developers. In a successful first round, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) awarded $46 million for 76 large-scale projects totaling 52 megawatts (MW) of new solar capacity, enough to power nearly 9,000 New York homes. Solar advocates and industry applauded the early results of the program and the state’s continued commitment to bringing reliable clean power and local solar jobs to New York.
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SEIA is the solar energy industry’s go-to source for the latest coverage on solar power, including U.S. and international policy, research and polls, business and financing trends, and more. Our staff strives to support the media covering solar energy issues and guide our members on effective media outreach with clear statements, background materials, news and multimedia resources.
SEIA is committed to informing policymakers, the media, and the American public about the benefits of solar energy for today’s communities, our economy, and our country.
Learn more from our statements and industry news below.
Americans Want More Emphasis on Solar, Wind, Natural Gas
Gallup
No fewer than two in three Americans want the U.S. to put more emphasis on producing domestic energy using solar power (76%), wind (71%), and natural gas (65%). Far fewer want to emphasize the production of oil (46%) and the use of nuclear power (37%). Least favored is coal, with about one in three Americans wanting to prioritize its domestic production.
Toshiba Enters Solar Power Generation Business With 6.5MW Plans
The Japanese maker of flash-memory chips, elevators and nuclear reactors, will enter the solar power generation business through projects with combined capacity of 6.5 megawatts.
Department of Energy Launches New Clean Energy Manufacturing Initiative
The U.S. Department of Energy announced the launch of a new initiative today meant to strengthen American clean energy manufacturing and enhance U.S. competitiveness.
Congress Passes Continuing Resolution
The Senate and House passed a six-month funding bill to avert a government shutdown when the current continuing resolution expires March 27. The bill does not replace the sequestration, but does provide detailed appropriations for several departments.
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SEIA Statement on Chinese Ruling Against US Renewable Energy Programs
Rhone Resch, president and CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), released the following statement today in response to reports that China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) has preliminarily determined that six state-level U.S. renewable energy programs violate global trade rules.
SEIA Statement on Today's California Regulatory Decision on Net Metering
Today, the California Public Utilities Commission passed on a vote of 5-0 a new rule regarding net metering, primarily to clarify calculation of the state’s five-percent net metering cap. Net metering allows customers to earn credit for excess solar electricity they produce that is distributed to other customers on the grid. The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) worked with members and stakeholders as part of the Coalition for Solar Rights asking for CPUC review of the calculation of the cap that is expected to be reached as soon as early next year by some utilities.
Solar Industry Statement on Passage of Maryland Solar Bill
Today, Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley signed into law the Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard for Solar Energy and Solar Water Heating Systems bill (Senate Bill 791 and House Bill 1187), which accelerates the target date for achieving the state's renewable portfolio standard two-percent solar carve-out by two years and ensures the industry maintains positive, year over year job growth.
SEIA Seeks Mutually-Satisfactory Resolution of Growing U.S.-China Solar Trade Conflict
Rhone Resch, president and CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), the national trade association representing companies across the solar value chain, released the following statement in the wake of today's decision by the U.S. Department of Commerce to impose additional duties on solar cells and modules imported into the United States from China:
New Study Shows US Solar Energy Could Employ Hundreds of Thousands of Americans by 2020
Univ. of Tennessee Baker Center study shows solar energy following similar growth path to mainstream usage as traditional energy sources, supported by smart federal policies similar to those that subsidize coal, oil, natural gas, and nuclear energy.
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SolarCity CEO talks the future of solar power
If investors merely went by labels in making buy-sell decisions, SolarCity would have been doomed by its name.
Area Wal-Marts Go Solar
Wal-Mart today will reveal a major project that it has quietly pursued throughout 2012 — the installation of solar power arrays atop a dozen Ohio stores, including nine in the Dayton-Cincinnati area.
Chicken Little and the "Crisis" of Grid Reliability
The Wall Street Journal published an alarmist piece yesterday depicting California’s electrical grid as the victim of a ‘looming crisis’ brought on by the state’s ‘growing reliance’ on wind and solar. While the success of wind and solar certainly raises new issues in terms of how to plan and operate the future electrical grid, the article overstated the severity of the problem California currently faces.
Its moment in the sun
A REVOLUTIONARY solar-powered aircraft touched down recently at Moffett Airfield, in the heart of Silicon Valley.
Shell Sees Solar as Biggest Energy Source After Exiting It
Royal Dutch Shell Plc (RDSA) says solar power, a business it abandoned four years ago, may expand into the world’s biggest source of energy in the next half century.
