Solar Spreading to Surprising Locations: Global Solar Center National Survey Reveals Unexpected Results
September 14, 2009 - Global Solar Center national survey reveals unexpected results:
- New Jersey, not California, has the most generous incentives for solar power in the nation.
- With a combination of city, state, and local incentives, homes and businesses in New York, New Jersey, Delaware, and Colorado can make all their money back from a solar installation in three years.
- The new hot market for solar electricity is Pennsylvania with incentives covering 60% of the installation cost.
- Solar hot water is now a one-year payback in Florida and southern Texas.
Global Solar Center has conducted a 50-state survey of solar incentives and adoption, which has revealed surprising results. States that were solar laggards have now become solar leaders. In 2008, the global solar market increased 50% and the US advanced to third position globally. Additionally, the market demand for solar power has grown an average of 30% per year for the last five years.
The US government has just changed the solar tax credit to a solar grant, funded by the federal stimulus bill. Additionally, hundreds of states and municipalities have launched their own incentives on top of this federal grant.
"With incentives on the federal, state and local level along with the support and expertise offered by our members, like Global Solar Center, this is a great time to go solar," said Monique Hanis, spokesperson for the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) in Washington, D.C.
"ACORE is proud to partner with our member, Global Solar Center, to highlight these important results of the solar power survey. These outcomes underscore the importance of educating residential and commercial customers of the combined incentive packages which we at ACORE have fought hard for and which can dramatically reduce payback periods for clean energy." Michael T. Eckhart, President of American Council On Renewable Energy (ACORE).
The challenge now for solar is not incentives - it is in the installation market. Consumers trying to go solar are often uncomfortable with the technology. They also are not well informed on the government incentives which means they cannot determine their cash payback on their solar investment. Finally, with very little name brand recognition, and thousands of installers of variable quality, people don't know who to trust and where to receive accurate information.
"The renewable energy industry in its present state is extremely fragmented and changing rapidly. Customers want to lower their bills but are confused as to where to go and who to trust. Global Solar Center solves this problem by offering unbiased, reliable information, free quotes and a network of qualified installers to get the job done," says Global Solar Center Chairman Jack D. Hidary.
For More Information Contact
Global Solar Center
www.globalsolarcenter.com
john@globalsolarcenter.com
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