NJ Leads the Nation in Solar Growth While NY Slips
June 14th, 2012 by 
Yesterday our friends at SEIA and GTM Research released their latest report on American solar market trends. U.S. Solar Market Insight: Q1 2012 found that solar growth continued its breakneck pace, with installations for the quarter 85% higher than last year this time – making it highest first quarter in history. Cumulatively, the U.S. has installed nearly 5,000 megawatts of solar electric capacity. Just five years ago, we were celebrating 150 megawatts installed nationwide. Let’s take a moment to appreciate just how far we’ve come in such a short time.
That impressive growth is coming from all corners of the country. The Q1 report found that New Jersey added the most new solar capacity, unseating long-time leader California for the first time. Long time solar powerhouse Arizona continues to shine, but it’s joined by exciting newcomers like Tennessee and North Carolina.
Meanwhile, our priority campaign of the moment – New York – is being left behind. Once one of the strongest states in the nation for solar, it’s fallen from 7th to 10th in new solar installations, well behind the Garden State as well as other neighbors like Pennsylvania and Massachusetts.
© Copyright 2012 SEIA/GTM Research
New York could very well reverse that trend by passing long-term solar policy. A bill has passed the Assembly Energy Committee and Senator George Maziarz, Chair of the Energy Committee, has expressed support for expanding the use of solar energy. Governor Cuomo recently launched the NY-Sun plan to double the amount of energy produced by solar panels by 2013 and quadruple it by 2014, a program which—if extended to run through 2022—would drive a total of 2,200 MW of local solar power and provide just the kind of blueprint for solar growth that New York needs to get back on top.
Our own jobs and economic impact report released this week shows just how much New York has to gain from this scale of solar development: $2 billion in economic activity and an average of 1,700 new jobs per year all throughout the state. All it will take is action from Albany before the legislative session ends this month. If you live in New York, please help us speak up in support!
photo: MPD01605.
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Tags:  new jersey Solar solar installations solar panels solar policy | [ Permalink ] |
solar sucks in upstate nys. been trying to sell jobs here in ny, nobody buying no real money around here most people on welfare, unfortunately, and even at a rate of $8.oo a watt for off- grid $5.oo for on grid it’s still hard to sell,, my last install was 2 yrs ago a 7kw system an off-grid system. and the schooling for solar priced too high. having to make a paycheck each week have to seek out other types of work (construction) try taking a week or 2 off for school can’t afford to do it. & pay for more schooling, it’s hard… we’ve been doing a few alternative energy events locally and people just walk &drive by nobody stopping around here esp binghamton,ny i’m not that expensive to install a system i love doing solar ; but here in nys it’s a no sell,,, Q