Mid-Atlantic/Northeast Region Fastest Growing PV Market With New Jersey and Pennsylvania Leading the Way

Philadelphia - April 12, 2011 — The second PV America conference and expo which concluded here on April 5 attracted more than 3,700 industry attendees (up 23% from 2009) affirming that the mid-Atlantic region is a national powerhouse in solar energy. More than 200 exhibitors (25% increase from 2009) who occupied about 70,000 gross square feet of space showcased the latest products and technologies driving the growth of the photovoltaic industry. Further evidence of the growth in the region: more than 700 consumers walked the exhibit floor during Public Day.

In remarks delivered during the opening day general session, Rhone Resch, president and CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) announced that "the region is now the largest market for PV in the United States and in 2010, the area from Washington DC to Boston installed more solar than all of California." He added that "the solar industry experienced a robust 139 percent growth in New Jersey and Pennsylvania had installed enough capacity last year to power 9,000 homes. Finally, he noted "that a recent report by SEIA and GTM Research projects demand for more than 3 gigawatts of new PV in the Mid-Atlantic/Northeast region by 2015, enough solar to power more than half a million homes."

"Utilities are no longer separate from the renewable energy industry," said Bob Gibson, vice president, market intelligence, Solar Electric Power Association (SEPA) in his remarks. "In real and growing ways, electric utilities are a part of the renewable energy industry and in particular are in the business of building and providing solar power. Today, utilities are active partners in everything from testing new technologies, managing customer and community programs and designing innovative solar business models. Utilities finance, buy, build and own solar resources of all sizes." According to Gibson, the northeast and Mid-Atlantic are excellent examples of the evolution of solar and the prominent role of the utilities in that evolution. "This year, seven of the top 10 utilities in our Top Ten report are not from California."

Other conference highlights included a panel discussion on financing solar featuring John Eber, managing director, Energy Investments, J.P. Morgan Capital Corporation; Barry Neal, senior vice president, head of Environmental Finance, Wells Fargo; and Ed Sproull, vice president, De Lage Landen. The panel, moderated by Laura Ellen Jones, partner, Hunton & Williams LLP, discussed how new financial structures are helping the growth of the residential market, the availability of tax equity and longer term growth in utility scale and wholesale power generation partially driven by cost. An archive of the session webcast can be viewed: http://hosted.mediasite.com/mediasite/Viewer/?peid=8e3f2ef1f4bb47f69a5581535eee1df81d password: pvamerica.

To celebrate major achievements of companies, individuals, and projects in the U.S. solar energy market, the first Photovoltaic Projects of Distinction Awards were presented during PV America by SEIA and SEPA. The 2011 recipients were: Silver Lake Solar Facility, Pittsfield, Mass.; Carlisle Area School District Ground Mount Solar Array, Carlisle, Penn.; and Family Residences and Essential Enterprises (FREE) Project, Long Island, N.Y.

The next PV America show will take place in San Jose, Calif., March 18 - 20, 2012.

About PV America 2011
PV America is presented by the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA)® and Solar Electric Power Association (SEPA) ®, whose combined efforts have created a world-class, regionally focused and vertically integrated event that engages a wide spectrum of industry professionals. Unlike other PV conferences, all proceeds support the expansion of the U.S. solar energy market through SEIA's and SEPA's year-round research and education activities, as well as SEIA's® advocacy efforts.

About SEIA®
Established in 1974, the Solar Energy Industries Association® is the national trade association of the U.S. solar energy industry. Through advocacy and education, SEIA® is working to build a strong solar industry to power America. As the voice of the industry, SEIA® works with its 1,000 member companies 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. www.seia.org

About SEPA®
The Solar Electric Power Association (SEPA)® is an educational non-profit organization dedicated to helping utilities integrate solar power into their energy portfolios. With more than 850 utility and solar industry members, SEPA® provides unbiased utility solar market intelligence, up-to-date information about technologies and business models, and peer-to-peer interaction. From hosting national events to one-on-one counseling, SEPA® helps utilities make smart solar decisions. For more information, visit www.solarelectricpower.org