SEIA Reacts to President Bush's Upcoming Visit to Solar Energy Facilities Press Release from Solar Energy Industries Association
February 20, 2006
In response to reports that President Bush will be visiting a solar manufacturing plant and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory's solar research facilities, Solar Energy Industries Association President Rhone Resch issued the following statement: "We cannot drill our way out of this energy crisis - but we can manufacture and innovate our way out." - SEIA President Rhone Resch "This week, President Bush will see first-hand the growth of solar energy in the United States. The President and Federal Reserve Chairman Bernanke recognize that natural gas prices are limiting our economy and that solar is one clean energy source that can make an immediate impact easing natural gas demand and prices. We cannot drill our way out of this energy crisis - but we can manufacture and innovate our way out. Solar energy is a rock-solid technology that consumers are installing today to address the current energy crunch.
"Already, the President's leadership has resulted in the first solar tax credits for homeowners in two decades. As of January 1st, the solar tax credits are in effect and helping consumers across the country to cut their energy bills and save money.
"More recently, President Bush became the first president in 25 years to urge solar power development in a State of the Union address. The President's Solar America Initiative, unveiled February 1st, proposes the largest funding increase for solar energy research in U.S. history. By 2015, this initiative aims to make solar power cost-competitive with conventional energy.
"By then, the President's initiative also aims to deploy between 5 - 10 GW of grid-connected solar power - a 20-fold increase, and the equivalent of 20 large natural gas-fired peaking power plants. That goal is reachable if Congress extends the solar tax credits for homeowners and businesses beyond 2007. A 10-year extension of the solar tax credits will avoid a stop-start industry cycle, create market conditions that allow solar companies to make more long-term investments that will reduce costs, and create 40,000 new U.S. solar industry jobs during the next decade.
"We look forward to working with the administration to expand America's use of solar power. In particular, we will work to extend the solar tax credits through 2015 and ensure that the U.S. is the global leader in the next great high tech growth industry, solar energy. The industry will also partner with the Department of Energy and our national laboratories to implement the Solar America Initiative.
The U.S. faces significant challenges from other countries, such as China, Japan, and Germany, in the race to lead the next great high-tech industry, clean energy. High natural gas prices are a wake-up call for this country to innovate, and the President has said it's time for the U.S. to develop clean technology solutions that increase our energy independence."
SEIA is the national trade association of solar energy manufacturers, dealers, distributors, contractors, installers, architects, consultants and marketers. Established in 1975, SEIA works to expand the use of solar technologies in the global marketplace.
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