If last night’s Opening General Session taught us anything, it’s that there are two distinct paths forward for solar in America.

In the first, we can continue viewing our growth as zero sum, where the future of distributed solar is purely at odds with utility-driven models of large-scale solar development. This path will ultimately please the traditional energy interests who would rather see us fight amongst ourselves than rise together to create a formidable industry.

Through the course of an hour, however, Stanford University’s Jeffrey Ball led three industry thought leaders in a discussion that demonstrated another way forward. In this approach, the solar industry must view itself as a serious part of American energy, not just an ‘alternative’ fuel source. And in order to build this future together, we have to work together to build supportive policies. As SEIA’s Board Chairman Nat Kreamer put it: to be taken seriously, the solar industry needs more companies that are willing to invest in policy.

In the 1920s, automobile manufacturers were struggling to find business models that would succeed in a rapidly changing and unfamiliar economic landscape. One of the factors that led to widespread adoption of personal automobiles was a robust road infrastructure that created the necessary demand. Similarly, in the 1990s the mobile phone industry struggled to gain a foothold until cell towers expanded to a level of saturation that allowed the budding technology to be truly transcendent.

Here in 2016, solar is no different. We are a future technology, one that can and should be a household commodity in the same way that cars and cell phones have become. But we can’t sit back on our laurels and expect it to happen on its own. In order for solar to thrive and reach its full potential, we need the correct policy environment to create the equivalent of roads and cell towers for our industry that will drive deployment at the local, state and national level.

Over the course of the session, all four panelists agreed on a fundamental truth: solar is growing fast, and that rapid growth represents a clear societal benefit. To go beyond the short-term squabbles and begin thinking like a smart and mature industry, we need to work together to achieve common goals.

SEIA will continue reporting live from SPI throughout the week to provide updates and analysis. Any media interested in further details about SEIA’s position on these issues should contact Alex Hobson at [email protected].