A goal of mine in writing for Forbes.com on energy issues is to point out intriguing business models, trends, and new concepts that may change the way we think about energy-related issues. Lately, I’ve been focused on dramatic changes in solar models and economics. Things have really changed in a very short timeframe, as the following story illustrates.
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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.
Ask Bill Clinton: How Can We Encourage Homeowners to Adopt Solar Energy?
David Crane, CEO and president, NRG Energy (NRG)
“With the cost of solar panels now just 10 percent of what they were five years ago, how do we streamline the local approval process and reduce the friction costs so that U.S. homeowners can realize the solar value of their property while paying less for their electricity?”
The Power—and Beauty—of Solar Energy
Utility power plants are many things—sprawling, expensive, often polluting—but one thing they are not is beautiful. Power plants are the engines of modern society, but we’d rather they stay out of the way.
2013 Q1 Update: U.S. Solar Industry Keeps Chugging Along
GTM Research and the Solar Energy Industries Association released numbers this morning suggesting that the solar juggernaut is not slowing down. Consider this: in the first three months of the year, the U.S. installed 723 MW, just under half of all new generation capacity installed across the country, and the best first quarter yet for solar.
U.S. Installs 723 MW of Solar PV in Q1 2013, According to New U.S. Solar Market Insight Report
WASHINGTON, D.C. AND BOSTON, MA — GTM Research and the Solar Energy Industries Association® (SEIA®) today release U.S. Solar Market Insight: 1st Quarter 2013, the definitive analysis of solar power markets in the U.S., with strategic state-specific data for 28 U.S. states and the District of Columbia.
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New Report: Solar Energy Reduces Military Costs, Boosts Security, Saves Lives
In celebration of Armed Services Day, the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) today released a first-of-its-kind report detailing how innovative solar technologies are helping the U.S. military meet many of its critical functions – from security and battlefield readiness to cost savings and efficiency.
SEIA Applauds Confirmation of New DOE Secretary Ernest Moniz
WASHINGTON, DC – Calling him “uniquely qualified,” Rhone Resch, president & CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), issued the following statement after Ernest Moniz was unanimously confirmed today as secretary of the Department of Energy:
New Study: Distributed Solar Energy Provides $34 Million in Benefits to Arizona Ratepayers
WASHINGTON, DC – A study released today shows that distributed solar generation (DG) and net energy metering will provide Arizona Public Service (APS) customers with $34 million in annual benefits.
Energy Experts: Deploying More Solar in Texas Will Create New Jobs, Ensure Grid Reliability
WASHINGTON, DC – In a new report, energy experts say Texas can help ensure the reliability of its electricity supply by deploying more solar energy, especially during the coming summer months. In recent years, Texas summers have been marked by extreme heat and drought. Wednesday, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) issued its Seasonal Assessment of Resource Adequacy (SARA) as well as the semiannual update to its long-term Capacity, Demand and Reserves (CDR) report.
SEIA Applauds Massachusetts' New Solar Goals
WASHINGTON, DC – The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) today applauded an announcement that Massachusetts has surpassed Governor Deval Patrick’s goal of installing 250 megawatts (MW) of solar energy by 2017 and the Administration plans to expand the Massachusetts solar goal to 1.6 gigawatts (GW). The 250 MW benchmark has been met nearly four years ahead of schedule.
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2013 Q1 Update: U.S. Solar Industry Keeps Chugging Along
GTM Research and the Solar Energy Industries Association released numbers this morning suggesting that the solar juggernaut is not slowing down. Consider this: in the first three months of the year, the U.S. installed 723 MW, just under half of all new generation capacity installed across the country, and the best first quarter yet for solar.
Solar power generator hits record levels
With Southern California’s largest electric generating station broken and scheduled for removal, solar generation levels have reached a record level in California, state officials said Sunday.
Interior Department Announces Plans for Renewable Energy Projects on Federal Lands
Critics have accused the Obama administration of being unwilling to exploit federal lands for energy. But the Interior Department is now taking aggressive action to promote green-power development in areas it controls.
In Japan, new policy spurs solar power boom
Across Japan, technology firms and private investors are racing to install devices that until recently they had little interest in: solar panels. Massive solar parks are popping up by the dozen, and companies are mounting panels atop warehouse and factory rooftops as part of a rapid buildup that one developer likened to an “explosion.”
Our opinion: Green in Massachusetts
Massachusetts’ second-in-the-nation ranking in clean technology is a tribute to the green energy policies the state has implemented and encouraged over the last several years. As environmental concerns grow along with the perils of global warming, those policies will pay greater dividends -- as long as the state doesn’t stray from that path.
