President Obama praised the U.S. solar industry in his annual State of the Union speech

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Giving his own "shout out for solar," President Obama praised the U.S. solar industry in his annual State of the Union speech. Afterward, Rhone Resch, president and CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), released the following statement:

"From the rooftop of the White House to the floor of the People's House, President Obama continues to show his strong, unwavering support for solar energy. On behalf of the 143,000 Americans who work in the U.S. solar industry – and the tens of millions of people who support it – the best way to thank the President for his leadership is to go out and prove him right. Today, we're well on our way to doing that, with solar now the fastest-growing source of renewable energy in America, pumping tens of billions of dollars into the U.S. economy. But despite this milestone, we believe the best is yet to come.

"Fresh off a record-breaking year, America's solar energy industry is looking forward to another great year in 2014 – thanks, in part, to President Obama's continued leadership and the smart public policies which are making solar more affordable than ever. With an estimated 13,000 megawatts (MW) of solar currently installed in the U.S., we're generating enough clean, reliable electricity today to power more than 2 million American homes – or every single home in a state the size of Colorado. Like the President, we see 2014 as a year of action, a year of progress and a year in which more and more Americans turn to solar to save money, help meet their energy needs and improve our environment."