SEIA Resources
Factsheets
SEIA produces a variety of research and other supporting resources for the solar industry, ranging from full reports to short factsheets. Below is a list of our factsheets, organized by date. For a full library of factsheets, organized by topic area, click here.
The High Cost of Tariffs
The Section 201 tariffs on solar cells and modules have caused great harm to the U.S. solar industry and the broader economy, including 62,000 workers laid off or never hired and 10.5 gigawatts of solar capacity lost.
Updating Building Codes Cost-Effectively With Solar
What you need to know about solar energy treatment as your jurisdiction updates to newer versions of the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC)
Residential ITC Phasedown
At the end of 2019, the solar Investment Tax Credit will begin phasing down in value. This factsheet explains key provisions of this federal solar tax credit for residential systems.
Solar & Multiuse Farming
Solar development and agricultural use can exist not only side-by-side, but increasingly are found together.
Solar & Agricultural Land Use
As solar continues to expand into new markets, both rural and urban, land use discussions are likely to occur. In these discussions, it's important for participants to understand that solar in not a threat to agricultural activity, but rather a harmonious development that can assist the farming community.
Solar and Property Value
It is a common misconception that ground mounted solar farms decrease nearby property values.
Solar Soft Costs
While the total cost of residential PV systems has declined by more than 65% over the last decade, hardware costs have fallen much faster than soft costs. Therefore, the soft cost share of total residential system cost has risen from 58% of total system cost in 2014 to 65% today.
Solar ITC 101
The solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC) is one of the most important federal policy mechanisms to support the growth of solar energy in the United States. Since the ITC was enacted in 2006, the U.S. solar industry has grown by more than 10,000% - creating hundreds of thousands of jobs and investing billions of dollars in the U.S. economy in the process. In 2015, SEIA successfully advocated for a multi-year extension of the credit, which has provided critical stability for businesses and investors.
Low-Moderate Income Solar Principles
As the national solar trade association, SEIA encourages solutions to maximize access to solar energy to ALL families and communities. Historically, access to solar energy has been more difficult for Low-Moderate Income (LMI) households due, potentially, to a range of factors such as lack of home ownership, limited credit history, or poor credit. To allow broader access to the benefits of clean, affordable solar energy, SEIA offers the following principles for our membership, policymakers, and other stakeholders in the solar economy.
Investment Tax Credit for Energy Storage
Energy storage systems are being deployed with residential, commercial and utility applications, helping all generation sources connected to the grid become more efficient and cost-competitive. Encompassing a multitude of technologies, including chemical batteries, thermal, and pumped hydro, energy storage stores excess energy and converts it back to electricity when most needed. This inherent flexibility is critical to building a resilient, reliable and sustainable electrical grid.