Bloomberg News

Mitt Romney sets an ambitious goal with his pledge to achieve U.S. energy independence by 2020. It’s just too bad his plan relies almost entirely on fossil fuels and largely ignores the solid promise of clean energy.

Romney’s plan, rolled out Thursday in solar-friendly New Mexico, focuses heavily on oil, gas and, most unnecessarily, coal. The presumptive Republican presidential nominee promises to expand drilling on federal lands and to roll back environmental rules his campaign adviser Ed Gillespie says are “destroying the coal industry.”

WASHINGTON – Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) President and CEO Rhone Resch made the following statement today following the release of Governor Romney’s Energy Policy White Paper.

The Wall Street Journal

Regarding your editorial "The Solar-Painted Desert" (Aug. 14): Solar is the latest industry the Department of the Interior leases land to, just like mining, cattle ranching and other energy sources—no special treatment has been requested or received. More lands are off-limits to solar (79 million acres) than are available. For perspective, there are 74 million acres leased by on- and offshore oil and gas projects. Also, there are no shortcuts in the National Environmental Policy Act when it comes to project reviews and approvals.

Clean Technica

Aiming to create green jobs and make solar energy more affordable for homes and businesses, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo signed a series of bills into effect today, August 17.

WASHINGTON – New York Governor Andrew Cuomo today approved legislation allowing solar energy to continue its rapid growth in the state. The package of bills, all related to tax exemption of solar projects in New York, is likely to have a positive impact on the total amount of electricity derived from renewables in the state. The Solar Energy Industries Association ® (SEIA ®) applauded the new laws, which will keep New York’s impressive solar growth on track to achieve its renewable energy goals in the NYSun Program.