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

Source: www.thehouseonshadylane.com

Real Goods Solar, Inc. is one of the nation’s pioneering solar energy companies serving commercial, residential, and utility customers. The company has recently made a partnership with Sunrun, a national, leading solar company, providing homeowners a way to go solar without high upfront costs. This new partnership will serve to offer flexible solar service options to homeowners in the key solar markets of California, Colorado, Massachusetts, and New York. These services include an expanded variety of options designed to make solar an easier choice by eliminating the high upfront cost and maintenance worries. Homeowners will now be able to pay as little as zero down, lock in low electricity rates for the next 20 years, and have monitoring, maintenance, and repairs fully covered. This partnership will involve Real Goods Solar designing and managing the installation of residential solar systems while Sunrun will hold the responsibilities of owning and monitoring the equipment. This partnership means to strengthen the two companies individually while also providing American homeowners with the most affordable and reliable systems to make the switch to solar easier.

Source: News Release- Globe News Wire