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.

Solar Power Mid-Atlantic, presented by the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) and Solar Electric Power Association (SEPA), will take place over September 9 and 10 in Atlantic City, NJ. The two days of programming will offer in-depth sessions and keynotes on the challenges and opportunities in the Mid-Atlantic solar market, as well as exhibits and demonstrations from solar firms and networking events.

Solar Power Mid-Atlantic is taking place at the perfect time, featuring one of the fastest-growing industries on the East Coast.  The Mid-Atlantic region is a key player in the U.S. solar market. Today, there are nearly 12,000 people across these four states working in solar, and we predict an additional 1.5 gigawatts of solar capacity will be installed here in the next two to three years.

New Jersey is also one of the top three states for installed solar capacity nationwide, behind only California and Arizona. Pennsylvania comes in at 11^th for installed capacity, and Maryland ranks 14^th. Delaware, a much smaller state, ranks 21^st but is in the top 10 for installed capacity per capita.

The growth of solar in the Mid-Atlantic mirrors what’s taking place across the nation.  Today, solar provides 143,000 Americans with good-paying jobs, pumps $15 billion a year into the U.S. economy and helps to reduce pollution.

In 2013, solar accounted for nearly 30 percent of all new electric generation capacity installed nationwide – second only to natural gas.  In fact, more solar has been brought online in the past 18 months than in the 30 prior years combined.  With 14,800 megawatts (MW) of installed capacity, solar is now generating enough clean, reliable and affordable electricity to effectively power 3 million American homes.

Today, 30 utility-scale, clean energy solar projects are under construction in the United States utilizing both concentrating solar power (CSP) and photovoltaic (PV) technologies – putting thousands of electricians, steelworkers and laborers to work, while also helping to reduce carbon emissions from power plants.  These facilities, along with rooftop solar on homes, businesses and schools, will generate electricity for generations to come.  In addition, innovative solar heating and cooling systems are offering consumers cost-efficient, effective options for meeting their energy needs, while lowering utility bills.

Simply put, solar energy is paying huge dividends for America’s economy and environment.  Please join us in Atlantic City on September 9 and 10 – and see for yourself!