SOLAR READY TO BREAK RECORDS

Why solar energy is poised for yet another record year

Chris Mooney, September 9, 2015 (Washington Post)

“The U.S. solar industry is on course for a new growth record in 2015…[and will add 7 gigawatts of new capacity to its 20-plus gigawatts of currently installed capacity], according to [Solar Market Insight Report 2015 Q2]…A gigawatt is equivalent to 1 billion watts and can power some 164,000 homes…[The second quarter of 2015 set] a new record for residential rooftop solar installations…[with] 70 percent year-over-year growth…[Solar was 40%] of all new electricity installations in the U.S. in the first six months of this year…[T]he growth boom is being fueled by a combination of declining costs, low interest rates, and a federal solar investment tax credit…[but] after 2016, if the solar investment tax credit is allowed to decline, the industry will face considerable uncertainty from 2017 to 2019…The situation is expected to then change again after 2020, as a key incentive program that’s part of the federal Clean Power Plan goes into effect, which will strongly favor solar and wind…” click here for more

click to enlarge

Tweet