Penn State Conference Explores Solar Power's Bright Prospects in Pennsylvania May 6-7

Recent state and federal economic incentives are improving the viability of solar power and brightening the prospect of solar business in Pennsylvania.

 

Organizers of the Solar Energy Conference, which will be held May 6-7 at Penn State, said they believe bringing the right people together will help unleash solar power as a major component of Pennsylvania's goals for a clean energy portfolio.

 

"We have a lot of work do to if we are going to fully take advantage these opportunities. The right combination of policies, research, workforce development efforts and business strategies could help make solar energy competitive very quickly," Dr. David R. Riley, executive director of the Center for Sustainability at Penn State, said. "This conference will help advance our understanding of the next steps we need to take."

 

According to Riley, a number of factors are driving solar energy opportunities in the state.

 

"New state funding programs like Pennsylvania House Bill 1 and Act 129, passed in 2008, make a big difference. When combined with federal incentives and stimulus funding, many new opportunities are created for homeowners, businesses and local governments to invest in solar energy," Riley said. "The cost of solar systems is also coming down as manufacturing and installation practices advance. A combination of these factors has made solar energy much more affordable."

 

Riley said the growth in demand could increase opportunities for contractors to grow businesses in solar energy installation and create jobs in Pennsylvania.

 

"Our country is just beginning to understand solar energy opportunities," Riley added.

David Passmore, director of the Institute for Research in Training & Development, said state and federal officials are hoping solar investments pay off in improved innovation, more jobs and economic leadership.

 

"The U.S. is banking on jobs created through green investments to recapture our leadership and innovation, stabilize our economy, and make up for lost manufacturing jobs," said Passmore. "The solar energy industry holds great promise for contributing to the evolution of an alternative energy economy."

 

Another goal of the conference is to separate fact from fiction in the solar energy field.

 

"There are a lot of questions and misconceptions about solar energy," said Riley. "The first goal of solar energy conference is to create some awareness about the facts."

 

The Solar Energy Conference is an outreach program of the College of Engineering.