Global Energy Company E.ON Joins SEIA Board of Directors

WASHINGTON, DC – As a strong supporter of solar, global energy company E.ON has become one of the newest board members at the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA). E.ON is an international provider of energy solutions and ranks as one of the world’s largest investor-owned power and gas companies, as well as one of the world’s leading renewable energy companies.

“E.ON is expanding its share of renewable energy projects in our company’s global power generation portfolio. In joining SEIA’s board, we’re underscoring our commitment to increasing the deployment of solar energy in the U.S. and around the world” said Steve Trenholm, Chairman, E.ON North America. “E.ON Climate &Renewables North America Solar, LLC views SEIA as a vital partner in our effort to expand clean power generation.”

“E.ON is a global leader and will be a great partner when it comes to our efforts to expand the use of solar across the United States,” said SEIA President and CEO Rhone Resch. “E.ON is developing and constructing many new, exciting and innovative utility-scale solar projects in the U.S. But they’re also at the forefront of efforts to expand the use of clean energy worldwide. SEIA commends this ongoing commitment.”

Today, there is more than 9,400 megawatts (MW) of cumulative solar electric capacity installed in the United States – enough to power more than 1.5 million American homes, including the White House. The solar energy industry also employs 120,000 Americans at more than 5,600 companies, most of which are small businesses spread across the United States, making solar one of the fastest growing industries in America. Part of this amazing growth is attributed to the fact that the average cost of a solar system has dropped by nearly 40 percent over the past two years.

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About E.ON Climate & Renewables (EC&R)
E.ON Climate & Renewables (EC&R), headquartered in Essen, Germany, is responsible for E.ON’s large-scale renewable energy activities. EC&R plays a leading role in the development of the renewable industry worldwide and is already active in onshore and offshore wind, photovoltaic, and concentrating solar power (CSP). E.ON currently operates over 9 GW of renewable capacity including large hydro. Since its formation in 2007, EC&R has already invested more than 9 billion Euros, including more than $5 billion in the U.S solar and wind facilities, and will continue to expand the share of renewable energy in E.ON’s power generation portfolio. For more information, please visit www.eon.com/renewables.

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 building 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. Visit SEIA online at www.seia.org.

Media Contacts:
Ken Johnson, kjohnson@seia.org, 202.556.2885