WASHINGTON, DC â€" Solar Energy Industries Association President and CEO Rhone Resch today released the following statement on the announcement by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities that the state has achieved its 4,000th solar installation:

WASHINGTON, DC â€" Solar Energy Industries Association President and CEO Rhone Resch today released the following statement on the announcement by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities that the state has achieved its 4,000th solar installation:

"We congratulate New Jersey leaders on the states 4,000th solar installation. By enacting policies like the states advanced renewable portfolio standard and strong incentives for solar, New Jersey has become the second largest market for solar in the country. In fact, New Jersey has more solar photovoltaic installations than Florida, Texas, Arizona, New Mexico and Nevada combined and is second only to California in total solar capacity.

"If he were alive, New Jersey native Thomas Edison would be proud of N.J. leaders innovation and foresight in advancing electricity generation and providing a better way to power our light bulbs and our HDTVs. The foresight of the BPU, the State Legislature and the Governors office has positioned New Jersey as a center of economic opportunity in the new, green economy. And since New Jersey is ahead of the rest of the country, they are already benefiting economically with new, high-quality jobs, lower electricity costs and cleaner air.

"New Jersey and the entire Mid-Atlantic region have emerged as a fast-growing and important market for solar demonstrating that solar energy is one of the best policy investments around. With solar energy, consumers are lowering their energy bills, adding value to their properties and cutting pollution. And the entire region benefits from a smarter electricity grid that is less susceptible to brown outs and black outs during the heat of the summer. Distributed solar helps keep the lights on for all of us.

"Another bonus is that N.J. is helping to create good-paying jobs across the supply chain from manufacturing and system design to installation. Solar energy is expected to create 440,000 permanent jobs nationwide by 2016."
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Contact:

Monique Hanis
mhanis@seia.org
202.556.2885

Jared Blanton
jblanton@seia.org
202.556.2886

Mark Sokolove, Tiger Communications
mark@tigercomm.us
703.302.8382

Background Resources:
2008 Solar Industry Year in Review
New Jersey Board of Public Utilities
Navigant Consulting, Inc. Study on Job Creation in the Solar Industry

About SEIA:
Established in 1974, the Solar Energy Industries Association is the national trade association of solar energy industry. As the voice of the industry, SEIA works to make solar a mainstream and significant energy source by expanding markets, removing market barriers, strengthening the industry and educating the public on the benefits of solar energy. Learn more at www.seia.org.

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