Senate Republicans Send Treasury Department Letter Seeking Safe Harbor Extension
WASHINGTON, D.C. — On May 21, 2020 Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Susan Collins (R-ME) and Thom Tillis (R-NC) sent a letter to the Treasury Department requesting changes to safe harbor requirements for solar energy projects in light of the coronavirus pandemic.
An Open Letter on COVID-19: The Resilience of the Solar Industry
By Abigail Ross Hopper. Two months ago, I wrote an open letter to the solar industry about COVID-19, describing what SEIA was doing to address this profound crisis, and laying out what we knew about the impacts of the virus on solar companies nationwide. I wanted to take this moment to reflect on our experience, share what SEIA and our members are doing, and talk about where we go from here.
COVID-19 Erases Five Years of Solar Job Growth
WASHINGTON, D.C. – New analysis shows that the U.S. solar industry will employ 114,000 fewer workers by June 2020, compared to previous forecasts that projected the industry would employ 302,000 Americans over the same time period. With an expected workforce of 188,000 people, this job loss will take the industry back to 2014 levels as a result of the COVID-19 crisis.
Solar Companies Overcome Challenges to Contribute to Community Relief Efforts (Part 1)
Even as the solar industry is on track to shed tens of thousands of workers as a result of the coronavirus, the solar industry is determined to be part of our nation’s recovery.
American Solar Workers Speak Up About the Harm the Coronavirus Is Causing
Thank you to those who have responded to our COVID-19 impact survey. Please continue to fill it out if your situation has changed or you are just starting to feel the impacts of this crisis. Your responses help SEIA advocate more effectively on behalf of our workers and businesses.
California Will Dramatically Undercount Savings from Customer-Driven Clean Energy
The coronavirus pandemic has many of us thinking about the systems we depend on and how we can protect them during times of crisis. When California families and small businesses invest in rooftop solar and onsite batteries as well as other demand response technologies, they make the power grid safer, more affordable and more resilient for all of us.
This Earth Day, COVID-19 Adds to the Challenge of Fighting for a Cleaner Environment
Half a century ago on this day, millions of people marched on streets across the United States to promote a clean environment. Fifty years later, there are two crises facing our planet. One is the immediate COVID-19 pandemic. The other is climate change.
SEIA Statement on USTR Calling to Remove Tariff Exclusions for Bifacial Solar Modules
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today the U.S. Trade Representative called for removing Section 201 tariff exclusions for bifacial solar modules. Following is a statement from John Smirnow, vice president of market strategy & general counsel for the Solar Energy Industries Association:
Clean Energy Sector Disappointed in FERC’s MOPR Decision
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) today largely rejected the clean energy sector’s Request for Rehearing on its order to impose a Minimum Offer Price Rule (MOPR) in the PJM capacity market. While clarifying that voluntary RECs are not considered by the Commission to be a state subsidy, FERC otherwise affirmed its December 2019 decision.
RENEW Wisconsin Joins SEIA’s National Affiliate Network
WASHINGTON, D.C. and MADISON, Wis. – The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), the national trade association for the U.S. solar energy industry, announced today that RENEW Wisconsin is now a formal SEIA state affiliate. RENEW Wisconsin becomes the 18th SEIA state affiliate.
Massachusetts Takes Another Step Toward Economic Recovery
WASHINGTON, D.C. and BOSTON, Mass. — Today, the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources released emergency regulations that expand and update the Solar Massachusetts Renewable Target Program (SMART), the state’s main incentive program for solar.
What Permitting Volume Tells Us About Solar Deployment During the Pandemic
Data aggregated by Ohm Analytics shows that solar permits are down substantially providing evidence that the solar industry is being severely damaged by the COVID-19 crisis.