Making it easier and more affordable to install rooftop solar systems on homes, businesses, government and military properties, and nonprofits and churches across the state, Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal has signed into law the Solar Power Free Market Financing Act. Representing a welcome change in Georgia, the new consensus legislation is considered an important victory for property rights supporters, as well as solar advocates, and is enthusiastically applauded by the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA).
The Importance of Solar Energy in Georgia
SEIA President and CEO Rhone Resch said in a recent statement, “Kudos to Gov. Deal for recognizing the importance of solar energy to Georgia’s economy and to its future prosperity.” Resch continued, “This forward-looking new law will help to greatly expand the use of clean, reliable and affordable solar energy across Georgia, and we applaud state legislators – especially the bill’s author, Rep. Mike Dudgeon – Georgia’s electric utilities, the Georgia Property Rights Council, the Georgia Solar Energy Association and many other groups for working together to benefit all Georgians.”
Today, there are 161 megawatts (MW) of installed solar capacity in Georgia – enough to power nearly 20,000 homes. But Resch said new solar installations are expected to quadruple next year in Georgia, according to the US Solar Market Insight® Year in Review report, which was recently released by SEIA and GTM Research.
Solar Industry Employment in the US
Currently employing 174,000 Americans nationwide, the US solar industry employs more people than tech giants Apple, Google, Facebook, and Twitter combined, and pumps nearly $18 billion a year into the US economy.
As the voice of the solar industry, SEIA works with its 1,000 member companies to champion the use of clean, affordable solar in America by expanding markets, removing market barriers, strengthening the industry, and educating the public on the benefits of solar energy.
Hailing once more the new solar finance legislation in Georgia, SEIA CEO Rhone Resch noted, “This landmark legislation will help to create new jobs across the state and stimulate economic activity, while helping to lower costs for consumers and businesses. It will also help to ensure that Georgia continues to be one of the fastest-growing solar markets in the United States.”
Picture Credit: Georgia State Capitol, via wikipedia commons.
