Source: http://www.plansmartnj.org/policy-briefing-nj-solar-energy-legislation/

The New Jersey solar market hit a new milestone this week when it eclipsed the 1 gigawatt (GW) mark for total installed solar electric capacity. According to a new study released by SEIA this week, New Jersey now ranks third in the nation for solar energy installations, thanks to declining system prices and support from the state’s policymakers including its robust net metering policies and the U.S.’ first Solar Renewable Energy Credit (SREC) program, an innovative market-based incentive for solar generation. U.S. Solar Market Insight: Year-in-Review 2012, released by the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA®) and GTM Research, found that New Jersey was responsible for nearly one-third of the nation’s non-residential solar installations last year. In total, more than 415 megawatts (MW) of solar was added to the state’s power grid in 2012, a 33 percent increase over 2011 (313 MW). New Jersey’s solar industry is now providing both in-state jobs- on the order of more than 5,700- and much needed in-state electricity generation. Due in large part to the falling cost of solar for consumers, the market size of the U.S. solar industry grew 34 percent from $8.6 billion in 2011 to $11.5 billion in 2012. At of the end of 2012, there were 7,221 MW of PV and 546 MW of concentrating solar power (CSP) online in the U.S. — enough to power 1.2 million homes. New Jersey is now the third state in the nation to hit the 1GW solar mark and is the third largest state solar market by MW of PV installed in 2012, behind California and Arizona.

Source: SEIA news release- New Jersey Solar Market Hits 1 Gigawatt Milestone

Source: U.S. Solar Market Insight: Year-in-Review 2012, http://www.greentechmedia.com/research/ussmi

The U.S. Solar Market Insight: Year-in-Review 2012, released by GTM Research and the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), provides an analysis of solar power markets in the U.S. Solar is now the fastest growing energy source in the U.S.; the Solar Market Insight annual edition shows the U.S. installed 3,313 megawatts (MW) of solar photovoltaics (PV) in 2012, a record for the industry. Even with the cost of solar falling for consumers, the market size of the U.S. solar industry grew 34 percent from $8.6 billion in 2011 to $11.5 billion in 2012—not counting billions of dollars in other economic benefits across states and communities. As of the end of 2012, there were 7,221 MW of PV and 546 MW of concentrating solar power (CSP) online in the U.S., which is enough to power 1.2 million homes. 2012 was also a year for record-breaking at the state level with California, Arizona, and New Jersey housing the largest state solar markets. The residential and utility segments had their best quarters ever in 2012, installing 144 MW and 874 MW respectively. As average residential systems prices dropped nearly 20% in one year, the residential market saw substantial growth in California, Arizona, Hawaii, Massachusetts, and New York. The non-residential segment, including commercial, governmental, and non-profit systems, installed more than 1,000 MW in 2012. Consistent policies regarding solar companies and the sustained growth of the market have enabled the creation of thousands of good jobs. “There were 16 million solar panels installed in the U.S. last year – more than 2 panels per second of the work day – and every one of these panels was bolted down by a member of the U.S. workforce,” said Rhone Resch, president and CEO of SEIA. For 2013, the report by SEIA and GTM Research forecasts 4,300 MW of new PV installations, up 29 percent over 2012, and 946 MW of concentrating solar power. Over the next four years, the residential and non-residential markets are expected to gain market share as system prices decline, the industry becomes even more efficient, and new financing channels arise.

Source: SEIA news release- U.S. Solar Market Grows 76% in 2012; Now an Increasingly-Competitive Energy Source for Millions of Americans Today, March 14 2013

Voters throughout America agree on solar energy and it growing as part of our energy portfolio. The ASES National Solar Tour took place last month and brought out tens of thousands of people interested in the solar industry. Read the article from the Denver Post written by Susan Greene, President of American Solar Energy Society (ASES) and Rhone Resch, President of the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA). Read the article in its entirety here. 

Rhone Resch

Susan Greene

Suntech photo.

(From SEIA news releases) The solar industry has initiated a voluntary Solar Industry Commitment to Environmental and Social Responsibility (Solar Commitment). The Solar Commitment is the work of SEIA’s Environment, Health and Safety Committee and is based on the Electronic Industry Citizenship Coalition’s Code of Conduct, with the addition of solar-specific provisions. It’s designed to evolve as the industry grows.

Founding Participants of the Solar Commitment include Dow Solar, SunEdison, SunPower, Suntech, Trina Solar, and Yingli Solar.

The groundwork for the Solar Commitment began in 2010, with the creation of the SEIA Environment, Health & Safety (EHS) Committee, comprised of more than 40 industry representatives from almost every part of the global solar value chain, including both U.S. and foreign-based companies and organizations. The EHS Committee addresses a wide range of topics, including PV recycling, installer safety, fire safety, building codes, and product standards.

In a related development, a new report from As You Sow, a nonprofit promoting environmental and social corporate responsibility, finds that the global solar photovoltaic (PV) manufacturing industry is setting best practices for sustainable growth.

The report, titled “Clean & Green: Best Practices in Photovoltaics,” is based on a survey of more than 100 solar PV manufacturers. It found that “many PV manufacturers beat standards set for emissions, are reducing water use and reusing water on their own initiatives, and are participating in voluntary international programs related to worker safety.” Additionally, several respondents indicated they are shifting production practices to use safer materials, reduce waste and use renewable energy for energy-intensive processes.

“This report confirms that solar PV manufacturers take their responsibility as members of our communities seriously,” said John Smirnow, Vice President of Trade and Competitiveness for SEIA. “SEIA will continue to work with companies throughout the solar supply-chain to establish standards that allow companies to compete in an environmentally and socially responsible way.”

The report is the first in As You Sow’s Cleantech Initiative, which operates to ensure sustainability within renewable energy technologies, and highlights companies who implement sustainable manufacturing, green chemistry, and transparency in sourcing, procurement, and governance. The Cleantech Initiative was built upon As You Sow’s prior work in electronics manufacturing and energy industries, and will be continued with additional research into other renewable energy technologies, such as wind energy.

“Solar is the cleanest, safest source of energy and the solar industry is committed to ensuring social and environmental responsibility for our supply chain,” said Rhone Resch, president and CEO of SEIA. “The release of SEIA’s Solar Commitment marks an important, proactive step toward a sustainable future for solar.”