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The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) outlined this week the key policies that President-elect Obama and the Congressional leadership must address to expand the use of solar energy and help put over 1 million Americans back to work by 2011.

HelioPower Technicians Onsite for Solar Ground Mount Project in 2006

SEIA released "Solar Energy: A Blueprint for Job Creation and Economic Security," which recommends that the new Administration and Congress embrace the following policies and programs to expand the creation of clean energy jobs in the United States: Improve solar tax credits; Increase government procurement of solar power; Create tax incentives for manufacturing; Pass a national renewable portfolio standard with a solar provision; Expand and update transmission infrastructure; Improve access to federal lands to harness our vast solar resources; Create a federal Clean Energy Bank; Create the office of Renewable Energy Development; Establish national standards for interconnection and net metering; Increase DOE Solar Appropriations and Enact climate legislation to reduce carbon emissions, stimulate solar generation.

SEIA President Rhone Resch said, "President-elect Obama and the new Congress have expressed their commitment to addressing our current economic crisis. Increasing the use of solar energy will create millions of new jobs and put billions of dollars into the U.S. economy, providing a clean, reliable and domestic source of energy while providing a clean, reliable and domestic source of energy,.

"The growth of solar energy will not happen quickly enough without the right federal policies to stimulate the market and remove fundamental barriers that prevent solar from competing in the electricity marketplace.

"To stimulate this growth, the Solar Energy Industries Association is recommending to the Obama Administration and the 111th Congress a number of immediate and near-term policies to stimulate the growth of solar energy, including: improving the solar investment tax credits to ensure that they can be utilized as Congress originally intended, creating a government procurement program that deploys solar on federal buildings and lands, and establishing a national renewable portfolio standard that requires a specific amount of energy come from solar.

"We look forward to working with the new Administration and the 111th Congress to achieve these important goals for growing our economy, improving our energy independence and reducing global warming."

SEIA Board Chairman Roger Efird of Suntech America said, "For solar energy to reach its potential as an economic engine and become an important part of our national energy portfolio, we need government leaders to continue to enact the right policies. These policies, especially in the current economic crisis, will allow companies like mine to grow and create green jobs that will reverse the trend of sending American jobs overseas. Instead, the U.S. can become a destination for international companies to find the skilled professionals they need to compete in the global renewable energy economy."

SEIA's will deliver the "Solar Energy: A Blueprint for Job Creation and Economic Security" to each member of President-elect Obama's energy and economic transition teams and Congressional leadership.

SEIA is comprised of over 800 member companies that manufacture, distribute, sell, design, own, install and finance solar power plants and systems.

Fast Company Magazine writer and author of Geography of Hope, a global survey of sustainable technology, Chris Turner logged an excellent review of the solar industry.  Entitled, "The Solar Industry Gains Ground – And Goes Global" you can find the full story online.  

Here is an excerpt:

To get a sense of just how bright and sunshiny the future looks to the solar-energy industry, consider The Graph: It's a standard affair, projecting solar's share of global energy production over the coming century. The Graph was created by a scientific organization that counsels the German government, but it has since become a prized piece of propaganda, embedded in glossy brochures and PowerPoint presentations by solar companies from California to gray-skied Saxony. At the left-hand, present-tense end of the scale, solar power is a microscopic pencil line of gold against the thick, dark bands of oil and natural gas and coal, an accurate representation of the 0.04% of the world's electricity produced by solar power as of 2006. The band grows slowly thicker for 20 years or so, and then around 2040 a dramatic inversion occurs. The mountain-peak lines indicating the various fossil fuels all fall steeply away, leaving a widening maw of golden light as solar power expands to fill the space. By 2060, solar power is the largest single band, and by 2100 it is by far the majority share.

This has always been solar energy's tantalizing promise, since the first photovoltaic (PV) cells emerged out of Bell Labs in the 1950s to power space probes and ignite the dreams of a generation of giddy utopian dreamers. Solar energy is as plentiful as daylight, as limitless as organic life itself, a fuel that comes free of charge and replenishes itself every time the earth rotates on its axis. Almost all energy, after all, is ultimately stored solar power: Oil, gas, and coal were born of the ancient sunlight that fed prehistoric animals and plants, the wind is set howling by the sun's unequal heating of the atmosphere, and even a campfire draws its warmth from solar power trapped long ago through photosynthesis. Enough radiation from the massive fusion reactor at the center of our solar system hits the earth every hour to fill all of its energy needs for a year.

Residential solar panel installation in Encinitas, CA by HelioPower

Generous state and utility rebates and now the new Federal Incentive Tax Credit for renewable energy can lift up to 50% off the price of a solar power system for your home or business.  It has never been a better time to invest in a solar electricity system, thus greatly reducing or eliminating your electric bill altogether!

A solar electric or panel system sits atop your roof and generates electricity from the sun!  You use very limited amounts of electricity from your utility company. 

New Federal Tax Credits for buying a Solar Power System just increased to 30% with no cap for either residential or commercial systems. When you combine these AMT exempt Federal Tax Credits with State Rebates, you can save nearly 50% on a new system!

In these volatile economic times we continue to be faced with escalating electricity costs. When you invest in a solar power system your budget is insulated from continued electricity rate hikes. For example, starting in January 2009 SCE will increase your rates by 25% to 30% as a result of higher natural gas and transmission costs. This marks the third rate increase in just four years!

Additionally, a solar electric system will increase the value of your home or business. A recent study from the Appraisal Institute demonstrated that the selling price of homes increased by $20.73 for every $1.00 of decrease in annual utility bills. Using this math, a solar electric system often pays for itself the day it’s installed.

Call the HelioPower sales team at 1-87-SOLAR-888 to get a free on site analysis and customized quote for your rooftop solar power system. 

Solar ground mount system for Glen Ivy Resort in Corona, CA by HelioPower

Today from RenewableEnergyWorld.com's managing editor, Jennifer Runyon writes "Investment in Renewables Will Lead to US Economic Recovery, Leaders Say."

In a joint conference call on Thursday, the leaders of four renewable energy industry associations — Randall Swisher from the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA), Karl Gawell of the Geothermal Energy Association (GEA), Linda Church Ciocci of the National Hydropower Association and Rhone Resch of the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) — put forth 5 key proposals that they believe are essential elements in helping bring the U.S. out of these dark economically-challenged times and into a bright, clean future.

The 5 key proposals include Amend the Tax Credits, Adopt a Federal RPS, Make Investments in New Transmission, Mandate Renewables for Federal Property and Invest US $30 Billion in Renewables.

For the full article click here.

Marc Gunther, Senior Writer at Fortune Magazine, logged today's media article, "Why clean energy is still a good bet."

Despite falling oil prices and the credit crunch, green technology investors remain bullish.

Here is an excerpt from his excellent article, for the full piece click here.

Chico, CA retail building installation by HelioPower

(Fortune) — Some people are saying that the clean energy revolution is over, before it has even begun. "Alternative energy suddenly faces headwinds," declared The New York Times. "Winds shift for renewable energy as oil price sinks, money gets tight," reports The Wall Street Journal. "Will the Economic Crash Take Down Our Hopes for Clean Energy?" asks Alternet.

There's no doubt that recent developments cast a cloud over the renewable energy business. The capital markets have turned risk-averse, making financing for alternative energy hard to come by. Declining oil prices make it harder for cleaner transportation fuels to compete with gasoline. In a slumping economy, the government will be reluctant to pass climate change legislation that will raise gas and electricity rates.

Never mind - there are compelling reasons, even now, to believe that the U.S. is on the verge of a dramatic shift, away from a economy dependent on cheap fossil fuels and towards cleaner, greener, more efficient ways of doing business.

Recently, I spoke with three leading venture capitalists who focus on clean tech: William E. "Wilber" James of Rockport Capital, Alan Salzman of VantagePoint Venture Partners, and Paul Maeder of Highland Capital Partners. Needless to say, they are biased - they are invested, personally and professionally, in renewable energy and other clean technologies.

But they all see powerful forces driving the U.S. economy towards a more sustainable way of doing business in the long run. Those drivers include the science of climate change, rising global demand for a limited supply of fossil fuels, and growing political support for clean energy.

From industry advocacy group, Vote Solar.com, comes this information to review concerning Proposition 7 on the California ballot:

Proposition 7 (pdf) is a California ballot initiative that would dramatically increase the state’s renewable energy requirement, to 50% renewables by 2025. Yet most environmental groups and almost all renewable energy companies and trade associations oppose it. Why?

The problem is not with the goal. We urgently need to increase our usage of renewable energy to 50%–and more. The problem is that the initiative is unlikely to deliver the desired result. Most of the opposition comes from a belief that Proposition 7 is so flawed that it will make the task of growing renewable energy markets harder, not easier.

Different groups have found many elements of the initiative problematic. You can read CalSEIA’s analysis here, Union of Concerned Scientists here, and NRDC’s here. (The Solar Alliance, American Wind Energy Association, and the Large Scale Solar Association all also oppose).
For the balance of the article and analysis, click here.

BusinessWeek weighed in on solar, its effect on the housing industry, new homes, price savings and valuations of solar homes in Adam Aston's article, "Will Demand for Solar Homes Pick Up?

Here are excepts, for the full article, click here.

As global financial markets melted down in October, Congress handed a gift to America's green energy industry: It renewed and broadened a set of tax credits for wind and solar power, geothermal, tidal energy, and more. The move did little to prop up eco-energy stocks, which have followed oil prices down. But the news did send a positive jolt to one of the economy's darkest sectors: homebuilding. Or, more specifically, solar-powered homes. Consumers recognize that green homes "save money month in, month out," says Rick Andreen, president of Shea Homes Active Lifestyles Communities in Scottsdale, Ariz.

Most of the sweeteners Congress conjured up will go to big projects such as wind farms. But aspiring buyers of green homes will benefit, too. The revised 30% one-time investment credit for solar means that a buyer who installs a typical $25,000 solar panel system on his roof will get $7,500 in income tax credits, up from $2,000 under the old standard. How long that investment takes to pay off will depend on local rules and utility rates. In markets with the most costly power, such as California, Connecticut, and New Jersey, the pretax compound rate of return on a typical home solar system will be better than 15% per year, says Andy Black, chief executive of OnGrid Solar, an industry research firm.

The fresh credits may mark a turning point for solar-powered homes. During the housing boom, when mortgages and energy were both cheap, green power was not a hot option; typical home buyers preferred granite countertops to solar panels. But even before the subprime crash, builders began to see rising interest in sun-powered dwellings. Ryness Co., which compiles sales data for homebuilders, found in a recent survey that homes with solar systems were outselling others by as much as 2:1 in 13 California communities.

Escondido, CA Residential System Utilizing Mitsubishi Solar Panels Installed by HelioPower

By Glenna Wiseman

With the extension of the Federal Investment Tax Credits for solar, the mood was jubilant.  Rhone Resch, president of SEIA, relived the exhausting 18 month journey the industry took to get the credits in place.  The legislature turned in a Hollywood style ending in its passage as part of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008.   His retelling of the amazing collaborative effort presented a cathartic opportunity for the industry to take a deep breath, fully embody the triumph and now move onto the hard work yet to come.  In fact Resch reiterated a laundry list of objectives SEIA sees as critical to the growth of the solar industry.  Ending his speech, he recalled the recent "Drill Baby Drill" call of the oil industry, urging the industry to replace it with "Go Solar, Baby, Go Solar!"

Talking with veterans of the industry at large, several mentioned the show reminded them of the "dot com" rush.  Lots of investment bankers rooming the aisles looking for the next big idea, etc.  Described as the "solar rush" by some, the industry is indeed poised for heavy growth over the next decade. If this industry matures as most do, you will see consolidation in the ranks and those investing in solar power systems are wise to look to strong entities to supply panels.

Many believe solar to be the "right technology at the right time and place" as our country looks to green up its energy sources and free up the grip of foreign oil on our economy and national security interests. 

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger walked the show prior to its official opening.  "Of course we are now facing tough economic times, but that's why we need to focus on solar and the environment," he said as reported by TheStreet.com.

The environment and the economy are cental themes in Thomas Friedman’s new book, "Hot, Flat and Crowded."  World-renowned author, journalist and three-time Pulitzer Prize winner, Friedman focuses on the role of environmental efforts in his new book, seeing this strategy as central to our financial well-being, among critical benefits.  You can join his online group discussion at http://www.thomaslfriedman.com/.

Solar Energy Companies Unite Behind Historic Federal Legislation; U.S. Now Poised to Lead Global Solar Energy Marketplace; Sprawling Solar Energy Expo Opens Its Doors to Sunbelt Citizens

All roads lead to Southern California this week, as thousands of people from around the world attend Solar Power International, the largest solar energy industry event in the Americas. Presented by Solar Electric Power Association (SEPA) and Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), Solar Power International '08 begins just days after the U.S. Congress passed the most significant federal policy ever enacted to support the solar energy industry — an eight-year extension of the federal investment tax credit for solar energy, and the elimination of both the residential cap for residential systems and the utility exemption. This sweeping legislation marks a turning point for the solar energy market in the U.S., which has already grown steadily at 40 percent per year throughout the decade and stands poised for a new era of expansion. Now in its fifth year, Solar Power International takes place October 13 — 16, 2008, at the San Diego Convention Center. This year the conference and expo coincides with Solar Energy Week in San Diego, organized by the California Center for Sustainable Energy (CCSE), drawing curious citizens from across the region to learn about solar power. With a total attendance expected to approach 20,000 people, Solar Power International '08 is the largest solar energy event in U.S. history.

Residential Ground Mounted Solar Power system in Temecula, CA by HelioPower

In concert with the solar industry’s biggest U.S. event, Solar Power International 08, HelioEMS, Energy Management Solutions, and HelioPower have announced a joint promotion to assist California customers.  The promotion, which runs through the end of the year, involves both energy savings technologies and a $500 discount on any residential or commercial solar panel system installation.  Solar Power International 08 takes place in San Diego, October 13-17, 2008.

Energy evaluation and reduction is the initial step any company should take to improve energy efficiency.  All commercial clients who sign up for a solar power system during this promotion and/or at the show will receive a complimentary energy on site walk through of their facility with a HelioEMS team member. 

From HelioPower, residential and commercial clients who contract for a solar power system will receive a $500 discount off their system price and a check for $500 on any referrals they send that result in a new solar panel system being installed.

“This promotion could not have come at a better time,” said Steve LoRusso, Vice President of Sales at HelioPower.  “With the extension of the 30% Federal Income Tax Credit now in place and with the removal of the $2,000 cap from residential tax credits, that easily makes what was a good investment in solar an absolutely great investment!  With utility rates going up like a rocket, we just can’t wait to show our new customers why they need to take a look at what could be their best investment in a decade.  Even if you looked at solar previously, you need to re-visit this investment, as solar is now 30% more lucrative!”

The solar investment tax credit provisions in H.R. 1424, the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, passed last week include:

• Extension for 8 years of the 30-percent tax credit for both residential and commercial solar installations
• Elimination of the $2,000 monetary cap for residential solar electric installations, creating a true 30-percent tax credit (effective for property placed in service after December 31, 2008)
• Allowance for Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) filers, both businesses and individuals, to take the credit

These credits are in addition to local state, city and utility based rebates that vary according to each region. 

“We’re delighted to partner with HelioPower to insure commercial clients are utilizing energy efficiently, prior to investing in a solar photovoltaic (PV) system,” said TR Bietsch, Managing Director of HelioEMS, Energy Management Solutions. “An energy walk-through of their facility enables us to assist customers right away with ideas and suggestions to save money on their electric bill.”