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.
Renewables Didn't Cause California Blackouts, Experts Correct the Record
Power outages in California underscore the need for more renewable energy, not less.
Solar Businesses Offer a Helping Hand to Communities Affected by COVID-19 (Part 3)
With COVID-19 cases still surging in the United States, solar companies continue to step up to make an impact in their communities and help our country #RebuildBetter. Here’s how several solar companies are giving back to their fellow Americans during this crisis.
Bipartisan Appeal: Solar Can Span the Aisle and Bridge the Gaps
As Congress considers how best to revive our ailing economy, investing in homegrown solar energy could jumpstart investment and create jobs. Solar energy isn’t a niche technology: there are now more than 2.5 million solar systems installed in every state and before the pandemic 250,000 Americans had a solar job.
Juneteenth: A Day of Celebration and Remembrance
Today we celebrate the anniversary of the freedom of black Americans, which came almost 100 years after the Declaration of Independence was signed. Two hundred and forty-four years later, black Americans continue to be harmed by racist institutions and laws. In addition to marking the anniversary of emancipation, Juneteenth is an opportunity to call attention to the disparities and systemic racism black people face every day.
Local Relief Efforts Get a Boost from Solar Companies (Part 2)
Solar can be a leading part of our recovery efforts, helping us create jobs, rebuild our economy and double down on our climate goals. While the economy continues to create uncertainty, it has not stopped solar companies from doing their part to help Americans on the front lines of the crisis.
Striving for Equity Amidst a Moral and Public Health Crisis
We are in the midst of a deeply troubling and traumatic period in the nation’s history. More than 100,000 Americans have died from the coronavirus, tens of millions have lost their jobs, and these hardships are compounded and made all the more brutal for our black and brown colleagues, friends and family, who are reeling from yet another series of unjust killings.
An Open Letter on COVID-19: The Resilience of the Solar Industry
By Abigail Ross Hopper. Two months ago, I wrote an open letter to the solar industry about COVID-19, describing what SEIA was doing to address this profound crisis, and laying out what we knew about the impacts of the virus on solar companies nationwide. I wanted to take this moment to reflect on our experience, share what SEIA and our members are doing, and talk about where we go from here.
Solar Companies Overcome Challenges to Contribute to Community Relief Efforts (Part 1)
Even as the solar industry is on track to shed tens of thousands of workers as a result of the coronavirus, the solar industry is determined to be part of our nation’s recovery. Despite operational and financial challenges, several solar companies are stepping up to contribute to a variety of global relief efforts, citing their ongoing commitment to the communities they serve. Here are a few of their stories. Companies Pledge Over $500,000 to Support Frontline Response Efforts in Rural Communities
American Solar Workers Speak Up About the Harm the Coronavirus Is Causing
Thank you to those who have responded to our COVID-19 impact survey. Please continue to fill it out if your situation has changed or you are just starting to feel the impacts of this crisis. Your responses help SEIA advocate more effectively on behalf of our workers and businesses.
California Will Dramatically Undercount Savings from Customer-Driven Clean Energy
The coronavirus pandemic has many of us thinking about the systems we depend on and how we can protect them during times of crisis. When California families and small businesses invest in rooftop solar and onsite batteries as well as other demand response technologies, they make the power grid safer, more affordable and more resilient for all of us. The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), which regulates the state’s investor-owned utilities, recently updated how they calculate the benefits of smaller energy projects.