Last year, in response to one of my earliest mentions of the Solar Energy Market,
a reader’s comment asked if the installation of solar power generation systems
is affected by regional considerations.
That question is perfectly understandable figuring how relatively new the marketing
and selling of solar systems is for a majority of folks in the American electrical
industry. Fact is, there’s plenty of good news for everyone interested in solar’s
potential for growth here in the States.
According to Brad Collins, executive director of the American Solar Energy
Society (ASES), a leading nonprofit renewable energy organization with over
13,000 members, America is well positioned for increased reliance on solar energy
– literally. That’s because 49 of our 50 states are located at latitudes farther
south than Germany’s location. And of course Germany currently leads the world
in solar electrical generation. Among our states, only Alaska is situated farther
north than Germany.
Still, the perception is that interest in Solar power generation systems remains
regionalized in our sun-drenched western states, particularly in California
and Arizona.
But according to Rhone Resch, president and CEO of the Solar Energy Industries
Association (SEIA), it is notable that growth of the solar industry extends
far beyond the western states. “The Mid-Atlantic states have seen considerable
growth in solar installations and manufacturing capacity due to progressive
governors and state policies, strong federal incentives and skilled workers.
New Jersey, for example, is a leader in solar energy, ranking second after California
for installed solar PV capacity according to the Interstate Renewable Energy
Council,” said Resch.
Resch claims that generous state subsidies, coupled with federal incentives,
have rebated many New Jersey homeowners 70% of the $40,000 average cost to install
solar panels in the state. “Over the last eight years, New Jersey put more than
$300 million into solar rebates, spurring the installation of solar panels at
28,000 homes and 68,000 companies,” explained Resch. “Under the state’s law,
power suppliers must generate at least 22.5 percent of their power by 2020 from
renewable energy sources. Last year, New Jersey’s solar capacity nearly doubled,
with 56 megawatts added to the grid and 61 percent of that came from projects
without any state rebate due to their industrial and commercial applications.”
Resch also pointed to solar growth in other emerging markets including New
England, New York and Delaware, where smart policies are encouraging solar demand
and proving the solar is successful even in areas not known for sunshine. Southeast
states, especially Florida, are also becoming contenders, realizing the jobs
and economic potential of solar.
“Pennsylvania’s $100 million Sunshine Solar Rebate Program is another forward-thinking
program, offering rebates to residential and small commercial customers that
install photovoltaic or solar thermal,” said Resch. “Authorized in July of 2008,
the program is set up to provide rebates that decline over time as certain benchmarks
of installed capacity are met. It is so popular with the business community
that the state legislature is trying to pass a proposal that would require greater
use of alternative energy and build upon the state’s first clean-energy requirement
adopted in 2004.”
Resch also explained that there is a pipeline of more than 10 gigawatts of
utility-scale solar projects in the pipeline.
“Interior Secretary Salazar’s setting aside of 1,000 square miles of public
lands for 24 ‘Solar Study Areas’ has the potential to generate nearly 100 gigawatts
of clean solar energy and create substantial job growth for the construction,
operations, and maintenance of those plants,” said Resch. “The Secretary and
BLM Director Abbey have fast-tracked the permitting process for 14 solar energy
plants that were identified as being far along in the process – this means they
should be ready to start construction of these plants by yearend, the first
solar energy projects on public lands.”
For a list of major Solar projects both operating and under development check
out the SEIA website:http://www.seia.org/galleries/pdf/Major%20Solar%20Projects.pdf
SEIA and ASES present industry networking events, publications, frequent webinars,
and other opportunities to educate members on the most important industry issues.
These organizations also sponsor major annual conferences and trade shows covering
the Solar Energy market:
ASES: ASES National Solar Conference – SOLAR 2010 is
May 17 – 22, in Phoenix, and will be in Raleigh, NC in 2011. ASES provides international
renewable energy industry information and access to regional chapters in 40
states: www.ases.org
SEIA: Solar Power International is Oct. 12 – 14, in Los Angeles, and
PV America will be on the East Coast in spring 2011; For a list of Solar companies
in each state:www.seia.org/cs/state_issues,
and SEIA’s Solar Industry Directory: www.SEIAsolardirectory.com