SEIA Solar Blog
Through our blog, SEIA staff aim to informing policymakers, the media, and the American public about the benefits of solar energy for today’s economy. Scroll down for a running feed of our blog posts. For a complete archive of press releases, blogs and other news articles, click here.
U.S. Solar Industry Continues Rapid Growth
This was a huge week for fans of clean energy. First, Telsa Motors announced that it would build a new factory in Nevada, employing 6,500 workers. Then Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid vowed to hold a vote later this year on green energy tax credits. That important announcement was quickly followed by news that the U.S. solar market hit a major milestone in the second quarter of this year with more than half a million homes and businesses now generating solar energy.
New Regional Trade Show To Highlight Mid-Atlantic Solar Growth
Mark your calendars! With less than a month to go, the first Solar Power Mid-Atlantic, a new regional event highlighting the strong solar industry in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Delaware, is quickly gaining momentum.
U.S. Solar Industry Waiting For SolarWorld To ‘Show Its Hand’
As the old proverb goes, “you can’t have your cake and eat it, too.” But convincing some people of that isn't easy.In hopes of ending the long-running and costly U.S.-China solar trade dispute, the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) has urged SolarWorld Americas, LLC to step forward and offer a specific proposal that could serve as the basis for discussions and eventually lead to a negotiated settlement.
German Solar Experience Offers Critical ‘Lessons Learned’ For America
Benjamin Franklin once said, “half the truth is often a great lie.” Keep that in mind when you read a recent report prepared for our friends at the Edison Electric Institute (EEI) about Germany’s experience with renewable energy, including solar power. Here’s the gist of the argument made by the energy consulting firm, Finadvice: Germany’s wholesale markets are suffering from “disequilibrium” because of increased consumer costs. The 86-page report is pretty much a hatchet job on renewables. “In conclusion, the lessons learned in Europe prove that the large-scale integration of renewable power does not provide net savings to consumers, but rather a net increase in costs to consumers and other stakeholders,” according to the report. Really? That’s the problem with half-truths. Not surprisingly, there’s no mention of the enormous societal costs of the damaging pollution which is caused by burning fossil fuels and undeniably driving climate change. So what’s the other side of the story – the one utilities fail to mention? In response to that question, the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) today released a comprehensive study taking an in-depth look at Germany’s solar support programs and how the United States can benefit in the long term from the experiences of the world’s leading solar producer.
Solar Energy ‘Lighting Up’ Professional Sports
When it comes to clean energy and sustainability, solar looks to be a shoo-in one day for the “green” Hall of Fame. Today, more and more sports teams, sports leagues and sports organizations are embracing the advantages of solar energy.
Trade Decisions Are Hurting American Solar Industry
Like many others, I believe the U.S. Department of Commerce’s 2012 and 2014 trade decisions against the Chinese module manufacturers are essentially protectionist in nature.
Outlook For U.S. Solar Remains Strong
Two recent developments clearly demonstrate why America remains “bullish” on solar energy. But they’re also vivid reminders of why we need to remain vigilant. As an organization, and as an industry, too much is at stake for us to become complacent. As the old saying goes on Capitol Hill: “What Congress giveth, Congress can taketh away.”
What Cost Shift? New Study Shows Solar’s Value To Grid
If you listen to many utility executives, distributed solar energy has the potential to destabilize electrical grids and result in huge cost shifts for many American consumers. Well, as the Irish are fond of saying: blarney!
New SEIA Board Chair Says Vision Needed For Continued Solar Growth
Over the next 12 months, I am going to challenge our SEIA Board and team to articulate a vision and to plan a path to a world where solar is one of the top three energy sources globally. Executing against that vision and path will keep our industry among the fastest-growing in the world today.
Cathedral Thinking: Can Houses Of Worship Become Beacons Of Sustainability?
"Cathedral thinking" refers to deep dedication to a complex endeavor that will outlive its architects. Today, it's imperative to apply this philosophy to the global crisis of climate change -- a threat that has taken centuries to create and will require unprecedented, strategic engagement of mankind to resolve.