SEIA

California and New Jersey – two states with well-structured organized markets for electiricity – are leading the nation in solar capacity, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association’s (SEIA) Year in Review report released last week. 
 
The solar market grew from $3.6 billion in 2009 to $6.0 billion in 2010, with installations totaling 956 megawatts (MW), achieving a capacity of 2.6 gigawatts. According to SEIA, this represents only the beginning of such growth. In 2011, the organization expects U.S. solar installations to double from 2010 levels.
 

A recent report forecasts rapid growth in jobs among the solar industry, and predicts competitive market states will lead the way in growing green jobs through clean energy innovation. The National Solar Jobs Census 2010 forecasts 24,000 net new jobs will be created over the next twelve months, a 26 percent increase over the 93,000 currently employed.
 

The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) Year in Review 2009 report detailed how despite the economic downturn installed solar power capacity climbed past 2,000 megawatts (MW), enough to power a city of 350,000 homes. The top two states in 2009 and cumulative installed capacity were states with competitive power markets.