So far, more utilities have made the commitment than solar companies. Solar Is Now, and it is time to sign the American Business Act on Climate Pledge.

Email SEIA to voice your corporate support for a strong climate outcome at the upcoming Paris summit, demonstrate your company’s commitment to climate and set an example for your peers. Special recognition opportunities exist. 

On behalf of the Finger Lakes Wine Region, Suzanne Hunt of Hunt Country Vineyards (center in purple) accepts SEIA's Solar Champion Award from SEIA's Vice President of Executive Affairs Tom Kimbis (third person from right) as other honored winery owners and project developers look on in Branchport, New York, on Oct. 26.
PHOTO BY MATT KELLY 

Rochester Business Journal – The Finger Lakes Wine Region in New York was honored with the Solar Champion Award by SEIA. “By taking advantage of solar’s cascading costs and proven reliability, these smart New York wineries are taking a giant step toward self-reliance, while saving money and reducing pollution along the way—the embodiment of true solar champions,” said SEIA President and CEO Rhone Resch.

Midwest Federal Lobby Day A Success

SEIA members from around the Midwest joined the SEIA federal affairs team to meet with Senators and Representatives (and their staff members) who represent their states on Oct. 21.

SEIA thanks those who came to Capitol Hill to roll up their sleeves and talk to decision makers about the issues shaping the solar industry and their communities. As business leaders and constituents, federal law makers need to hear from members like you to make positive solar legislation happen.

Op-Ed Campaign

SEIA is waging a pro-ITC op-ed campaign to reach federal lawmakers where it matters most: their hometown districts. Coordinating with SEIA on a bylined article in your community is a great opportunity to boost your company’s profile as an industry leader by using SEIA’s policy messaging. If you’re interested, contact Fallon Forbush, SEIA’s Public Relations Manager, by email at [email protected]. 

Renew U.S. Tax Credits For Solar Energy

Rochester Business Journal – New York is embracing new ways to generate, distribute and consume electricity, which is translating into an expansion of clean energy and improved consumer choice and affordability. Thanks to these forward-looking and smart efforts — like community net metering and wholesale-distributed generation — solar energy is thriving in New York. The state ranks seventh in the nation for total installed solar electric capacity, but a looming federal policy decision in Congress could impact New York’s innovation. Under the federal solar investment tax credit (ITC), which provides a 30 percent tax credit to commercial and residential solar users, total U.S. solar capacity is expected to double over the next two years, writes District Sun President Mar Kelly.

Solar Stumps For 5-Year Tax Credit Extension

SNL - The wind and solar industries both are lobbying Congress to extend their respective tax credits for five years — the amount of time that companies in both sectors say they need to lower costs in order to give up the incentives without suffering too much harm. With a cut to the value of the investment tax credit, or ITC, scheduled for the end of 2016, Rhone Resch, president and CEO of SEIA, took his pitch to an Oct. 20 solar conference in Washington, D.C., telling attendees that the industry has held up its end of the bargain by creating jobs and driving down costs. Citing an analysis by Bloomberg New Energy Finance, Resch noted that solar installations would fall roughly 70% and that more than 100,000 jobs would disappear if the credit falls to 10% from 30% at the end of next year. On the other hand, the industry would see only a 10% contraction between 2021 and 2022 with a five-year extension, he said. "In the long run, we do not want to be dependent upon tax credits, OK. We are trying to put policies in place that allow us … to scale up, lower our costs, so that we can be cost-competitive without the ITC in the long run — regardless of what happens with the oil and gas industry and their permanent tax credits and all the rest. We'll let them figure out their own business model. But for us, we want to be an industry that stands on our own," Resch said at the 2015 Distributed Sun New Energy Summit.

Clean Power Plan Published In Federal Register, Rule Effective Dec. 22

PennEnergy – Rhone Resch, president and CEO of SEIA, issued the following statement upon the CPP’s publication with the Federal Register: “As a nation, it is time to replace our aging, dirty energy infrastructure with clean, reliable, affordable 21st century energy technologies. Solar energy is the most sensible compliance option for stations under the Clean Power Plan. Solar works in all 50 states, has zero carbon emissions, creates more jobs per megawatt than any other technology and can be deployed cost-effectively and quickly – all while improving grid reliability. The solar industry is looking forward to helping states achieve an optimal long-term strategy for both their economies and environment.”

DOE Finalizes $1 Billion In New Loan Guarantee Authority And Announces New Application Dates

Announced in August, the 45-day Congressional notification period required for allocating $1 billion of additional loan guarantee authority from the Loan Programs Office for clean energy technologies has concluded and is now available for applicants. Apply for Title XVII loan guarantees. The first Part 1 application deadline is Nov. 18. The first Part II application deadline is Dec. 16.

USDA Provides Funding For More Than 1,100 Renewable Energy And Energy Efficiency Projects Nationwide

The United States Department of Agriculture is awarding loans and grants that will help more than 1,100 rural small businesses and agricultural producers reduce energy usage and costs in their operations. The funding is for energy efficiency improvements and/or renewable energy systems. The USDA is financing projects in every state, as well as in the Virgin Islands, the Western Pacific and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. In addition to the grants announced today, the USDA is accepting applications for future Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) funding. For application deadlines and details on how to apply, contact a USDA state energy coordinator, or see page 60349 of the Oct. 6 Federal Register.

DOE Offers $30M For Solar Innovations

The U.S. Department of Energy SunShot Initiative is accepting applications for the latest round of its Technology to Market funding program, which helps solar companies to cross technological barriers to commercialization. Concept papers are due Nov. 18. Apply today.

Lighting The SPARC: New Funding Program Creates Solar-Friendly Communities

The Solar Powering America by Recognizing Communities (SPARC) funding program has established a national recognition and technical assistance program for local governments in order to drive greater solar deployment and make it possible for more American homes and businesses to go solar. Over the next three years, more than 300 communities across the country will receive technical assistance through The Solar Foundation (TSF) focusing on eliminating market barriers and reducing soft costs. Learn more about TSF’s approach to delivering technical assistance, and apply via email to participate.

Florida Supreme Court Approves Floridians For Solar Choice Amendment

PVSolarReport – SEIA President and CEO Rhone Resch said, “As an organization – and as an industry – we strongly support the efforts of Floridians for Solar Choice…If this ballot initiative gains the voter approval it needs, solar development across the state will explode, creating thousands of new jobs and hundreds of millions of dollars in new economic activity. But most importantly, this is about consumer choice. That’s why this initiative is being supported by groups as diverse as the Sierra Club, the Christian Coalition of America, the Florida Retail Federation and the Tea Party Network. These groups all recognize, like we do, that people have a fundamental right to choose their energy source and have a real say in what they pay for their electricity.”

SEIA Members-Only
SEIA Election Update

SEIA’s Nominating Committee will soon announce the final slate of candidates for the election of Elected Directors and Division Chairs. The election is intended to provide a broad representation of the general membership on the SEIA Board of Directors. The elections will fill the seats on SEIA's Board of Directors for Elected Director (5), as well as the (4) seats held by each of the division representatives – DG, SHC, SSC and USP. 

Information on each of the candidates and the opportunity to participate in a campaign webinar will be distributed later this week. The election schedule, instructions on how to vote will also be included in the communication.  Voting is open to the full membership with one vote per SEIA member company.

We would like to stress the importance of your participation in this process; this is your chance to help shape the direction of the association. We need and value your vote!

Please email Suzanne Farris for any questions related to this election process.

Solar Industry Fundraisers

SEIA is honored to be co-hosting with Andy Marsh, CEO of Plug Power, a breakfast fundraiser for Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.). The event will be on Thursday, Nov. 5, in Washington, D.C., at 8:45 a.m. EST. Sen. Schumer is a member of the Senate Finance Committee.

We call upon you to support these fundraisers, and to share the invitations with your colleagues and other industry folks to ensure we have a strong showing by the solar industry. Email Suzanne Farris for more information on upcoming fundraisers being held by the solar industry.

Are You Into Community Solar?

Are you a developer, financier or other market participant involved in community solar? If so, there may be an upcoming opportunity to engage with high-level officials to explain your experiences and ask for beneficial changes to encourage community solar market growth. Email SEIA for more information.

SEIA Members-Only
Volunteers Needed For SEIA Ethics Committee

With the passage of the new SEIA Solar Business Code, SEIA seeks more volunteers to create a diverse SEIA Ethics Committee. Individuals at companies of any level of SEIA membership are eligible. The Committee upholds the ethics of the industry, including evaluating complaints against companies for Code violations. If interested, email your contact info to Tom Kimbis, SEIA’s General Counsel.

SEIA Launches New Finance Initiative To Open Markets And Expand Investment Opportunities

You are invited to join the SEIA Finance Initiative – a new program to open investment, markets and financial innovations to expand solar deployment. The SEIA Finance Initiative seeks to coordinate the valuable expertise and insight across solar, finance, legal, real estate and related industries to identify and deploy creative finance-based solutions for solar industry growth. To participate in the SEIA Finance Initiative, please contact Sara Geist at [email protected]. To discuss the initiative directly, please contact Michael Mendelsohn, SEIA’s senior director of project finance and capital markets, at [email protected].  

National Solar Jobs Census

Data collection for the National Solar Jobs Census 2015 has begun! The 2014 Census proved to stakeholders and policymakers across the country that the solar industry is one of the fastest-growing sectors of the U.S. labor market, and with 174,000 solar workers already on their payrolls, employers anticipated 2015 would see continued growth of over 20 percent! This new Census will put these predictions to the test and your participation is absolutely essential. With your help, this effort will paint the most accurate picture of this country's solar workforce, yet! As a thank you for completing the survey, you can receive the full version of the SEIA/GTM Research U.S. Solar Market Insight Report: 2014 Year In Review for free.

Help America #GoSolar

Thanks to government and industry collaboration through the newly-formed National Community Solar Partnership, GRID Alternatives is now accepting applications for new SolarCorps Fellowship positions across the country. Made possible by AmeriCorps funding, these positions will be vital in increasing solar access for all Americans. Click here for details and position listings. Please help spread the word through your networks and social media!

Click to Tweet: 
 

Thank you #FL Supreme Court for being on the right side of history, ruling in favor of @flsolarchoice! #GoSolar http://seia.us/1jD537Z

Please complete a brief online survey to help SEIA accurately invoice your organization for 2016 membership: 2016 SEIA Membership Annual Solar Revenue Survey. 

The survey is live and must be completed on or before Tuesday, Nov. 10. An email with more information will be sent to your organization's primary and billing contact tomorrow.

For questions, please email [email protected] or call 202-469-3749.

We've done the math and the average SEIA membership equals a total savings of $11,200 for member companies. That's an average $7,700 return on investment! What are you waiting for?

20% Off Entry-Level Solar PV Training

Everblue Training, LLC, has partnered with SEIA to bring members the most comprehensive and effective introduction to solar energy training on the market. SEIA members receive an exclusive 20 percent discount on online and on-demand training. Get started now and reach your goal of becoming a NABCEP-certified solar contractor! 

25% Off Career Services

Whether you need to post a new position or search for new positions within the solar industry, JobTarget has your company covered. Members receive a 25 percent discount when using SEIA’s Solar Jobs Board.

20% Off Policy Tracking Services

Stay on top of proposed state legislation, state regulatory proceedings and general rate case tracking with PolicyVista, EQ’s suite of policy tracking services. SEIA members receive 20 percent off!

Webinars are one of SEIA's most highly-rated member benefits. Many webinars are exclusive to SEIA members and can be watched anytime online through the SEIA Webinar Portal. Browse our archive of webinars on topics ranging from net metering to tax policy to state-specific solar markets.

Radian Generation Releases Lens Solar Asset Management Software

Solar asset management and operations and maintenance (O&M) provider Radian Generation has released its Lens internal software platform for use by solar investors. According to Radian Generation, the software tool centralizes technical operations, financial reporting and contract compliance tasks in a comprehensive, scalable database available from any Web-enabled device. The software has been available internally and to select clients of Radian’s asset management services and will now be available as a stand-alone product..

SunLink Named Fastest Growing Solar Company In San Francisco Business Times Fast 100

SunLink Corporation earning a top rank in the San Francisco Business Times’ Fast 100 as one of the fastest-growing private companies in the Bay Area. This year’s Fast 100 assessed companies from nearly every industry and found SunLink to be the fastest growing solar company in a region known for its rapid pace of business. Making number 23 on the list of overall companies, SunLink is a leader in the solar energy project solutions space, regarded for its highly engineered products and solar project-related services that have been implemented in connection with more than 1GW of solar projects across North America.

RBI Solar Partnered With Conti On PSE&G Landfill Solar Project

RBI Solar has supplied the racking for the 11.18MW-dc Kinsley Solar Farm in Deptford, New Jersey. The solar farm is part of Public Service Electric and Gas Company’s (PSE&G’s) Solar 4 All program and covers 32 acres of the closed Kinsley Landfill. Conti Enterprise was the EPC for this landfill project. RBI’s in-house team of engineers worked with Conti to custom design a non-penetrating landfill racking solution that not only meets the wind and snow loading but also matched the financial requirements of the project.

GRID Alternatives Project Provides Solar Power For San Diego Troops

A collaborative project involving GRID Alternatives San Diego, San Diego Habitat for Humanity, and Willis Allen Real Estate, has given solar power to eight military veteran families this year. The collaboration also will achieve another installation for four homes on Veteran’s Day, Nov. 11.

Impress Labs Launches Solar Marketing Think Tank

Impress Labs, a brand-driven communications agency for the solar and clean energy industries and other technology sectors, launched the Solar Marketing Think Tank, an idea forum and blog hub for solar marketing, public relations and communications professionals. Solar Marketing Think Tank provides a platform for solar marketing innovators to contribute their ideas and experiences for promoting solar and related energy solutions to the industry’s various target markets.

sPower Awarded 68.8 MW PPA From Southern California Public Power Authority

Salt Lake City-based Sustainable Power Group (sPower) has been awarded a 20-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with Southern California Public Power Authority (SCPPA) to provide 68.8 MW of solar power. The electricity will come from sPower's Antelope DSR 1 and 2 facilities, to be constructed on roughly 440 acres located in Lancaster, Calif. Construction is expected to begin mid-2016, with a commercial operations date later that year.

Deployment forecasts generated by Bloomberg New Energy Finance as part of their recent ITC analysis can now be purchased by SEIA members.  The forecasts cover all 50 states, in all three market segments, for both a no-ITC scenario and a five year ITC extension scenario.

SEIA’s research team is kicking off their annual Solar Means Business survey. If you have installed a corporate solar array, we want to know about it! Take our online survey. Completed submissions as well as any questions can be directed to Aaron Holm.

40 Acres For Lease/Sale For Solar Farm In California

Owners of a 40-acre property next to the PG&E substation on Jayne Ave. in Coalinga, California, are interested in leasing or selling the property to support a solar farm. The property is zoned for multi-family, commercial and AG.

Solar Power Project At Parking Lot In Oman

Design, supply, install, test and commission a 5 MWp grid interactive solar PV power plant, including connecting it to existing PDO electrical grid in the Mina' al Fahal area of Oman. Tender bond, where applicable, ensures conformance of the tender. The company requires tenderer to issue a tender bond in the exact format detailed. The tender bond shall be forwarded to the company as part of the technical tender under separate cover. The tender bond shall be enforced in the event that the tenderer fails to submit and substantiate a conforming tender or has failed to accept award of the contract.

Double Down On Green:
#SolarMeansBiz
#ActOnClimate

81 additional companies signed the American Business Act on Climate Pledge, the White House announced. "Some of our biggest companies made new commitments to act on climate – not just because it’s good for the planet, but because it’s good for their bottom line," President Obama said in a video address this week. Many of the company action plans include new or continued adoption of cost-effective and clean solar energy.

Each year, SEIA releases a Solar Means Business report, which catalogues the current state of solar adoption by U.S. corporations and businesses. If your company has developed, managed or installed a solar system for a commercial user in the past year, make sure it's included in the report by filling out this survey. If you have any questions, please contact Aaron Holm at [email protected].

Did You Know?
9 out of 10 Americans support solar, the fastest-growing source of renewable energy in America.
Learn more at americasupportssolar.org

Sustainable Energy Developments, Inc.

Contractor/Installer
Ontario, N.Y.

BayWar.e. U.S.

Project Developer
Irvine, Calif.

Distributed Energy Opportunities In The Mid-Atlantic

Nov. 5 | Washington, D.C.
SEIA and Sullivan & Worcester will host a networking breakfast and roundtable discussion regarding new developments in Maryland, the District of Columbia, Virginia and Delaware that are creating investment opportunities for renewable and distributed energy projects. Join us as industry and governmental leaders discuss these ongoing changes and emerging strategies for taking advantage of these opportunities.

Green Building Solar Summit

Nov. 16 | Washington, D.C.
The SunShot Initiative, SEIA and the Photovoltaic Manufacturing Consortium (PVMC) are excited to bring their communities together to explore and discuss critical structural, contractual and financial barriers and identify opportunities to work collaboratively to find innovative solutions and expand the commercial solar market. Register to hear about trends and issues across the solar and green building communities.

Solar Power Northeast

Nov. 18-19 | White Plains, N.Y.
Solar Power Northeast (#SolarNE) will provide an intimate setting to meet with 200-300 attendees from all cross-sections of the industry. Meet developers, manufacturers, utilities and more at this two-day event where discussion topics will center around solar trends and policy in New York, New Jersey and Massachusetts. Learn more and register today.

Solar Finance & Investment USA

The Role Of Renewable Energy In New Jersey

U.S. Solar Market Insight Conference

Western Power Summit

MnSEIA Midwest Gateway To Solar Conference

NREL Industry Growth Forum

Grid Next: Advancing Clean Energy On The New Texas Grid

Future Electric Utility Regulation Series

Grid Of The Future Summit

U.S. Solar’s Short And Long-Term Future

Solar Focus 2015: Resiliency For The Future

Clean Air Through Energy Efficiency Conference 

Dec. 1-3 | Galveston, Texas
Texas’ CATEE Conference is a premiere educational conference and business exhibition connecting public and private decision makers and thought leaders. Its purpose is to help communities improve decisions that determine the energy and water intensity of the built environment, learn from examples and seek alternative renewable energy sources – and reduce related emissions.

Power Generation Week

Dec. 6-10 | Las Vegas, Nev.
Power Generation Week includes POWER-GEN International, Renewable Energy World Conference & Expo North America, GenForum and more. Benefit from five days packed with pre-conference workshops, technical tours, more than 70 conference sessions, panel discussions, three exhibition days and multiple networking events. Gain access to nearly every facet of the market – all under one roof.

U.S. Energy Storage Summit