While it may seem like an ambitious and excessively lofty plan, leaders at the solar energy sector say they consider a variety of approaches will help get them to their goal of producing 20 percent of the U.S. energy demand about a decade from now.
As of 2018, renewable energy accounted for 17% of electricity generation in the United States, with solar accounting for just 1.6% of that, as stated by the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
However, Abby Hopper, president and chief executive officer of the Solar Energy Industries Association, detailed elements of the Solar+Decade road map during National Energy Week being celebrated in North America’s largest energy show unfolding in Salt Lake City this week.
During the Monday opening of the Solar Power International conference, Hopper said extension of the solar investment tax credit will be a crucial part of the success.
The federal production tax credit, which permits both commercial and residential installers to acquire credits for 30% of the system’s installation cost, has been phased out.
The credit will fall to 26% in 2020, 22% in 2021, and by 2026 that a 10% tax credit is only going to be available for business systems.
Hopper said continuing the tax credit in its current form would deliver $50 billion in overall investment in 2030 alone and infuse an additional $87 billion in solar industry investment.
“We have been hard at work convincing the policymakers of the value of extending” the tax credit, she explained.
Hopper said there are four important elements to the Solar+Decade roadmap that highlight aggressive cooperation; market accelerators like energy storage; market levers and policy drivers like expansion of the tax credit or beefing up building codes; and managing growth of the solar industry itself.
“We have a bold vision for 2030,” she said, warning it would not be easy.
“Allow me to assure you it will be a war, not a battle,” she said, especially the fight to maintain the tax credits in place.
Paula Glover, president and chief executive officer of American Association of Blacks in Energy, said the growth in the solar industry needs to be inclusive of all households, in all areas, if it’s to be key in solving problems of electricity insecurity in the USA.
She pointed to some 2015 poll by the Energy Information Administration that saw one in five households reported foregoing the purchase of medication or food in order that they could pay their monthly electricity bill.
Fifty percent of African American families, the survey included, confront that decision every month.
Glover stated as an industry, it’s not”holistically thinking about everybody” as it comes to growth opportunities to expand solar into more neighborhoods.
David Bywater, chief executive officer of Lehi-based Vivint Solar, informed the audience every aspect of renewable energy growth is critical.
“It’s all about bettering the lives of our clients,” he explained. “We are the drivers of this revolution.”
Stephanie Cutter, a political strategist and former deputy senior adviser to President Barack Obama, said what is essential is messaging to get more public purchase in on the beauty of solar power.
“I’ve never seen the conversation so elevated around energy solutions and climate change,” she said, stressing,”but do not assume people understand how solar works.”
What the consumer may understand regarding significance is something they may have heard 10 years back, so educating people on the new realities is essential.
The trade show continues through Thursday.
A Spin:
While it may seem like an ambitious and overly hurtful plan, leaders at the solar energy sector say they believe many different approaches will help get them to their goal of producing 20 percent of the U.S. energy demand about a decade from now.
As of 2018, renewable energy accounted for 17% of electricity generation in the United States, together with solar accounting for just 1.6% of the, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
However, Abby Hopper, president and chief executive officer of the Solar Energy Industries Association, detailed components of the Solar+Decade street map during National Energy Week being celebrated at North America’s biggest energy show unfolding in Salt Lake City this week.
Throughout the Monday opening of the Solar Power International convention, Hopper said extension of the solar investment tax credit will be a crucial part of the achievement.
The federal production tax credit, which permits both commercial and residential installers to get credits for 30% of the system’s installation price, has been phased out.
The credit will fall to 26% in 2020, 22% in 2021, and by 2026 that a 10% tax credit will only be available for business systems.
Hopper stated continuing the tax charge in its present form would deliver $50 billion in total investment in 2030 alone and infuse an additional $87 billion in solar industry investment.
“We’ve been hard at work convincing the policymakers of the importance of expanding” the tax free, she explained.
“The American solar success story continues to be composed,” Hopper added.
Hopper stated there are four important components to the Solar+Decade roadmap that emphasize aggressive collaboration; market accelerators such as energy storage; market levers and policy drivers such as extension of the tax credit or beefing up construction codes; and handling growth of the solar industry itself.
“We have a bold vision for 2030,” she said, warning it would not be easy.
“Allow me to assure you it will be a war, not a conflict,” she said, especially the fight to maintain the tax credits set up.
Paula Glover, president and chief executive officer of American Association of Blacks in Energy, said the growth in the solar sector needs to be inclusive of all households, in most areas, if it’s to be key in solving problems of energy insecurity in the United States.
She pointed to some 2015 poll from the Energy Information Administration that saw one in five households reported foregoing the purchase of medicine or food in order that they could pay their monthly power bill.
Fifty percent of African American households, the poll added, confront that decision each month.
Glover said within an industry, it’s not”holistically thinking about everybody” when it comes to expansion opportunities to expand solar into more neighborhoods.
David Bywater, chief executive officer of Lehi-based Vivint Solar, informed the crowd every facet of renewable energy expansion is crucial.
“It’s all about bettering the lives of our customers,” he explained. “We are the drivers of the revolution.”
Stephanie Cutter, a political strategist and former deputy senior adviser to President Barack Obama, stated what is essential is messaging to get more people purchase in on the attractiveness of solar power.
“I’ve never seen the dialogue so elevated around energy alternatives and climate change,” she said, stressing,”but don’t assume people understand how solar works”
Precisely what the consumer may understand about affordability is something he or she might have heard 10 decades back, so educating people on the new realities is essential.
