WASHINGTON, DC – In his State of the State address, California Governor Jerry Brown today discussed California’s ambitious energy goals, aimed at accelerating deployment of solar and other renewable resources. In his speech, the governor underscored that California is on track to reach –and potentially exceed– its Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) goal of 33 percent by 2020.
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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.
Volkswagen Switches On Its Largest Solar-Energy Complex
Volkswagen AG switched on its largest photo-voltaic installation worldwide as Europe’s biggest carmaker builds on its U.S. auto factory’s recognition by an environmental group for sustainable operations.
Solar Power Installations Hit Record in Mass.
Massachusetts recorded its largest number of new solar power installations in 2012, as hundreds of homeowners and large institutions and businesses, such as schools and big box stores, took advantage of government-backed incentives for renewable resources.
Time for Private Purchases of Renewable Power
Five years ago, North Carolina became the first state in the Southeast to set a renewable energy and efficiency standard. The 12.5 percent by 2021 standard is a great goal, and we should keep raising the bar.
FERC's Small Generator Interconnection Procedures (SGIP)
FERC issued a notice of proposed rulemaking to update its SGIP. Among several changes, it proposes to modify the Supplemental Review process; making it similar to the California Rule 21 process - a 100% of minimum load screen along with two additional technical screens that evaluate a generators' impact on safety, reliability and power quality. FERC will host an additional workshop and provide an opportunity for written comments on the proposed changes before finalizing the rule.
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Solar Leaders Applaud New PV Cost Study that Shows Government Policies Reduce Installed Costs, Expand U.S. Solar Market
Today researchers at Lawrence Berkeley National Lab released “Tracking the Sun II: The Installed Cost of Photovoltaics in the U.S. from 1998–2008.” The new report found that the average cost of going solar in the U.S. declined by more than 30 percent from 1998 to 2008, a trend that can be largely attributed to the success of market-building policies at the state and local level. Findings also show that, after a three-year plateau, costs decreased by 3.6 percent from 2007 to 2008, marking a pivotal year for the American solar industry.
National Poll Shows More Than Nine Out of 10 Americans Want Solar Now
A vast majority of Americans, across all political parties, overwhelmingly support development and funding of solar energy, and their support for solar has remained consistent over the last year. These and other findings were reported today in the 2009 SCHOTT Solar BarometerTM, a nationally representative survey conducted by independent polling firm Kelton Research.
Obama's Nellis Announcement Shows Solar is Creating Jobs Now
Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) President and CEO Rhone Resch today released the following statement on President Barack Obama’s tour of the solar installation at Nellis Air Force Base and announcement of the amount of economic stimulus funding for solar and geothermal projects.
President's Energy Budget Request Will Help Create Solar Jobs, Grow the Industry
The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) today released the following statement from Chairman Roger Efird, SEIA chairman and president of Suntech America, in support of President Obama’s Department of Energy Fiscal Year 2010 budget request, which includes $320 million in solar energy funding and $42 million for clean energy transmission and reliability.
Solar Energy Industry Group Reports US Solar Market Hit Record Growth In 2008, Despite Economic Crisis
Today, the Solar Energy Industries Association released its 2008 U.S. Solar Industry Year in Review, highlighting a third year of record growth.
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Georgia Power to buy more solar from homes, businesses
Georgia Power has agreed to buy more power from solar-equipped homes and businesses as part of its plan to boost the amount of solar power it sells, the utility told regulators Thursday.
Solar panels will be installed on 4,700 homes at Ft. Bliss
On Wednesday Balfour Beatty Communities, LLC and SolarCity® announced plans to provide up to 13.2 megawatts of solar energy on 4,700 military homes at Balfour Beatty-managed residential communities at Fort Bliss, Texas, and the adjacent White Sands Missile Range (WSMR) in New Mexico.
Massachusetts Makes Solar Modules More a Priority Than Ever
The temperature in Massachusetts may be getting increasingly colder as winter approaches, but the state's solar energy industry continues to heat up thanks in part to available financial incentives. After all, it's not by coincidence that the Bay State has had the 10th fastest growing market for photovoltaic power since late 2009, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA).
IEA: Solar Power Could Produce Nearly One-Quarter of Global Electricity by 2050
Last Friday, DOE also said it would distribute a $62 million grant to a handful of companies researching and developing concentrated solar power projects for electric utilities. CSP uses mirrors to collect and focus sunlight on a surface to produce steam for electric power generation.
Solar Energy Powers the Military and Veterans
Just because Veteran's Day has already passed does not mean it's time to forget the work of current and former military personnel. In fact, the solar energy industry has been instrumental in powering operations for all branches of the military and in providing reliable and cost-effective electricity for when veterans return home from deployment.
