Solar energy sees record growth

Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} The Solar Energy Industries Association has released its 2008 annual report, US Solar Industry Year in Review, highlighting a third year of record growth.   The report notes that 1,265 megawatts (MW) of solar power of all types were installed in 2008, bringing total US solar power capacity up 17 percent to 8,775 MW.   "Despite severe economic pressures in the United States, demand for solar energy grew tremendously in 2008," said Rhone Resch, president and CEO of SEIA. "Increasingly, solar energy has proven to be an economic engine for this country, creating thousands of jobs, unleashing billions in investment dollars and building new factories from New Hampshire to Michigan to Oregon.   ÔÇ£To maintain our industryÔÇÖs growth, create jobs and meet President ObamaÔÇÖs goal of doubling renewable energy production in the next three years, we need smart federal policies, such as a renewable portfolio standard with a specific solar provision that help to develop and deploy vast solar resources around the country,ÔÇØ Resch continued.   ÔÇ£TodayÔÇÖs solar technology combined with the right policies will help us double solar production in the United States and move us to a clean energy future.ÔÇØ   Several states added or expanded incentives or requirements for solar energy during 2008, including California, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri and Ohio. To date, 28 states have renewable portfolio standards that require a certain amount of energy be generated from renewable sources.     *┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á *┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á *