SEIA Statement on Federal Budget Sequestration & Impacts on 1603 Treasury Program

Statement from Rhone Resch, President and CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association, about Federal Budget Sequestration:

“It’s unfortunate that the federal budget sequestration has come to pass. These budget cuts will negatively affect the U.S. economy and the solar industry will not be immune to these impacts. Of particular concern to SEIA are cuts to the 1603 Treasury Grant Program, which encouraged over $11 billion in private investment in solar in 2012 alone. SEIA is in ongoing conversations with the Obama Administration to determine how sequestration will affect solar project applications under the 1603 Treasury Grant Program.

“The coming budget cuts could also affect the timely permitting of solar energy projects on federal lands, as recently mentioned by Secretary Salazar, and endanger Department of Energy solar program activities.

“This type of uncertainty is hard on the 119,000 workers in the U.S. solar industry across all fifty states, many of whom work for small businesses. We may see project timelines slip, resulting in contract and job losses. SEIA hopes for a speedy and thoughtful resolution to minimize these losses and to protect the solar industry and the greater U.S. economy.”

More Resources:
January 2013 letter from SEIA to OMB regarding sequestration and the 1603 program: http://www.seia.org/research-resources/seia-letter-omb-treasury-1603-sequestration-cuts

Media Contact:
Jamie Nolan, jnolan@seia.org, 202-556-2886