SEIA Applauds Final Passage of California Energy Bill

WASHINGTON, DC – SEIA President and CEO Rhone Resch issued the following statement today after California lawmakers gave final approval to sweeping energy legislation:

“This is a banner day in California.  Once again, state lawmakers have set the bar high when it comes to the adoption of renewable energy.  AB 327 provides a clear pathway for the continued growth of solar generation in California, which ranks #1 in the nation in total installed solar capacity with 3,761 megawatts (MW) – three times more than any other state.  What’s more, solar now provides nearly 44,000 good-paying jobs across the state, while saving money for hundreds of thousands of Californians on their utility bills.

“Moving forward, we plan to work closely with the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to ensure that future rules preserve consumer choice, ensuring that California homeowners, businesses and schools will continue to benefit from clean, reliable solar energy.  Today, solar is more affordable than ever.  Average PV system prices have declined by 40 percent since the beginning of 2011 – and by more than 50 percent since the beginning of 2010.  As an industry, we’re also doing our part to help boost the economy and to fight climate change.  SEIA applauds California legislators for “˜leading by example’ and for their strong, ongoing commitment to solar energy.  We urge Governor Brown to sign this important legislation.”

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Related: California Solar 

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