Established in 1974, the Solar Energy Industries Association® (SEIA) is the national nonprofit trade association of the U.S. solar energy industry. Through advocacy and education, SEIA is working to build a strong solar industry to power America. As the voice of the industry, SEIA works with its 1,000 member companies to make solar a mainstream and significant energy source by expanding markets, removing market barriers, strengthening the industry and educating the public on the benefits of solar energy.[1] Rhone Resch has led SEIA as President and CEO since 2004.
SEIA's members represent all solar technologies including: solar photovoltaic (PV), solar heating and cooling and concentrating solar power (CSP),[2] and all segments of the market: residential, commercial property and utility-scale applications.
Contents |
Department of Treasury Section 1603 Extension
In December 2010, SEIA's lobbying efforts helped persuade Congress to extend the Department of Treasury Section 1603 program, which gave commercial solar investors a cash grant in lieu of the 30 percent solar investment tax credit (ITC) and helped move forward more than 1,100 solar projects in 42 states.[3]
American Recovery & Reinvestment Act of 2009
Through SEIA's efforts, the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act (ARRA) included numerous solar provisions, including the Section 1603 Treasury Program, a Renewable Energy Loan Guarantee Program and Renewable Energy Manufacturing Investment Credit.[4]
Investment Tax Credit Extension
In 2008, SEIA successfully led industry efforts to extend the 30 percent federal solar investment tax credit for 8 years, through December 31, 2016. The ITC was also expanded to allow utilities to take the tax credit and removed the $2,000 cap for residential systems. This policy spurred exponential growth of the industry.[5] SEIA also played a pivotal role in the initial adoption of the 30-percent federal ITC as part of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct), which was passed by a Republican-controlled Congress and signed by President George W. Bush.[6]
U.S. Solar Market Insight™
The SEIA-GTM Research 2010 U.S. Solar Market Insight ™ Year in Review showed that despite the economic downturn, the total size of the U.S. solar market grew 67 percent from $3.6 billion in 2009 to $6.0 billion in 2010. New solar electric installations in 2010 totaled 956 megawatts (MW) to reach a cumulative installed capacity of 2.6 gigawatts (GW). Utility PV installations more than tripled in 2010 to reach 242 MW, up from 70 MW of new installations in 2009. The solar heating and cooling (SHC) market grew, as 29,500 solar pool heating systems and 35,500 solar water heating systems were installed in 2010 alone, providing heat to a total of more than 65,000 homes, businesses and pools. And, the cumulative CSP capacity from all 17 operating plants reached 507 MW in 2010.[7] The SMI report is issued quarterly in mid-June, mid-September, mid-December and mid-March.
National Solar Jobs Census 2010
With SEIA's support, The Solar Foundation, a nonprofit and non-lobbying organization funding solar research and education, produced the National Solar Jobs Census 2010. The Census found that as of August 2010, the U.S. solar industry employed an estimated 93,000 solar workers and that more than half of U.S. solar firms expected to add solar jobs in 2011.[8]
U.S. Solar Energy Trade Assessment 2010
SEIA's U.S. Solar Energy Trade Assessment 2010 report, prepared by GTM Research, is a comprehensive analysis of trade flows and domestic economic impact of the U.S. solar energy industry based on data from the 2009 calendar year. The report concluded that the United States was a significant net exporter of solar energy products, with total net exports of $723 million in 2009. The largest solar energy product export was polysilicon, the feedstock for crystalline silicon photovoltaics, of which the U.S. exported $1.1 billion.[9]
Solar Power International
The Solar Power International Conference and Expo (formerly called the Solar Power Conference) was created in 2004 by the Solar Electric Power Association (SEPA) and SEIA to provide North America with a business-to-business solar conference and expo. The event was renamed Solar Power International (SPI) in 2008 to reflect the show's growth. It is currently the largest business-to-business solar energy conference and expo in North America.[10] It is also one of the fastest growing trade shows in the United States.[11] The 2011 conference takes place October 17 – 20, in Dallas, Texas.
PV America
PV America is a regional SPI event, which is also presented by SEIA and its partner, SEPA. The 2011 PV America highlighted growth of the solar industry in the Northeast/Mid-Atlantic region April 4–6 in Philadelphia. The 2012 conference takes place in San Jose, California. It is expected to attract more than 4,000 installers, contractors, builders, architects, distributors, municipal procurement personnel, engineers, utilities and others from this region.[12]
Solar Energy Trade Shows, LLC
SEIA and SEPA formed Solar Energy Trade Shows, LLC in 2010 to produce SPI and PV America. Proceeds from these shows go directly into advocacy, research and education activities to expand the U.S. solar energy market.[13]
SEIA PAC
The SEIA Political Action Committee enables the solar industry to support candidates who are committed to expanding the use of solar technologies in the global marketplace.
Solar Works for America
The solar industry employs about 100,000 Americans across all 50 states, and is projected to support over half a million American jobs by 2016.[14] The Solar Works for America (SWFA) microsite shares installation and jobs data by state, shows the companies operating in each state and tells stories of actual solar workers across many sectors of the economy - from manufacturing and engineering, to construction and sales, and supporting industries - from around the country.[15]
The Solar Generation USA Road Trip
The Solar Generation USA Road Trip is a public service announcement and webisode series that travels the country to meet the people embracing solar energy. By giving voice to project developers, manufacturers, installers and, customers, the series showcases people using solar power for their homes, businesses and public buildings.[16]
Solar Bill of Rights
At SPI 2009, SEIA unveiled the Solar Bill of Rights, a list of eight rights that when enacted, will help give solar customers and companies the freedom to compete on equal terms with traditional energy sources and the liberty to choose the energy source they think best. Some of these rights include stopping Homeowner Associations from restricting residents from installing solar systems and allowing residents to be compensated for their system's excess electricity with full retail rates.[17]
Solar at COP16
SEIA participated in the 16th session of the Conference of the Parties under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Cancun in 2010.[18] While there, SEIA, in partnership with the European Photovoltaic Industry Association (EPIA) and a coalition of international solar and renewable energy organizations, presented a report that showed that the solar industry was a key player in the transition to a low-carbon future.[19]
Solar at COP15
The 15th session of the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen in 2009 was the first time that the global solar industry participated in a coordinated way at an international climate change conference. SEIA held a series of briefings highlighting how solar was ready to meet 15 percent of U.S. electricity needs while combating climate change and creating jobs.[20] Two of these briefings and a global industry report were produced with the EPIA.[21]