Solar Energy Poised to Put Americans Back to Work
The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) today outlined the key policies that President-elect Obama and the Congressional leadership must address to expand the use of solar energy and help put over 1 million Americans back to work by 2011.
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.
President Obama, Bipartisan Champions in Congress Save Jobs for Thousands in U.S. Solar Industry
Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA®) President and CEO Rhone Resch released the following statement today on President Barack Obama signing tax legislation into law that extends the Department of Treasury Section 1603 program for one year.
Solar Industry Statement on Restructuring Announcement by First Solar
WASHINGTON - Rhone Resch, president and CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), released the following statement today in response to news that First Solar (NASDAQ: FSLR) is restructuring its operations to reflect market conditions. The restructuring includes scaling back manufacturing operations in Europe and Malaysia and reducing its global workforce by 2,000 employees, including about 120 employees in the U.S.:
Solar Advocates Applaud Preliminary PUC Decision to Boost Clean Energy
SAN FRANCISCO - California solar energy advocates today praised a proposed decision by the California Public Utilities Commission (PUC) that, if approved, will likely boost renewable energy use by homeowners, businesses, and commercial uses and lower energy costs for both solar and non-solar energy ratepayers.
SEIA Statement on Senator Bingaman's Clean Energy Standard Proposal
Rhone Resch, president and CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association, released the following statement in reaction to Senator Jeff Bingaman's (D-NM) proposal for a clean energy standard (CES).
SEIA & Solar Alliance Merge to Drive Effective Policy for Solar at the State Level
The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), the national trade association for the solar energy industry, announced today that it has officially merged with the Solar Alliance, an advocacy organization committed to establishing solar policies at the state level. Effective immediately, the Solar Alliance will operate under the SEIA brand in an effort to present a unified solar industry voice in all advocacy efforts at the state level. Carrie Cullen Hitt, president of the Solar Alliance, is now Vice President for State Affairs at SEIA, and the Solar Alliance team joins Hitt as part of SEIA’s new department for State Affairs.
SEIA Files Petition on Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Interconnection Standards
WASHINGTON - The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) submitted a petition today requesting a rulemaking to update Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) interconnection standards for small photovoltaic generation. The filing targets certain provisions of the "Standardization of Small Generator Interconnection Agreements and Procedures" or "Order No. 2006," which was established in 2005.
SEIA Statement on Payroll Tax Cut Compromise
Rhone Resch, president and CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association, released the following statement today in reaction to a congressional compromise bill that extends the payroll tax cut and unemployment benefits through the end of the year, but does not address tax extenders such as the 1603 Treasury program.