Future of Solar and incentives in US

There seems to be a bit of a dichotomy around solar energy in the marketplace at the moment. On the one hand, research suggests that consumers want more solar solutions with a recent YouGov survey saying that 72% of respondents still favoured solar power.  But on the other hand, deployment figures seem to suggest that people aren’t opting for solar.

Let’s take a look at the last 12 months. There is no doubt that the market has taken a heavy hit with deployment of solar PV at an all time low.  At the beginning of 2012 we saw solar PV deployment peak at an unprecedented 120,000 KW per week. By June 2012 this was tracking at under 20,000 KW per week and by w/c 25 November 2012 solar PV installations had fallen to a mere 3.8 MW (1130 installations) per week.  (Source: STA)

PA Governor says yes to shale but no to solar

This December, the Corbett Administration will start handing out up to $20 million of taxpayer dollars over the next three years to businesses, local governments, non-profits and schools to buy natural gas powered trucks up to $25,000 per vehicle. At the same time the Governor has refused to support a proposed law to extend financial incentives for state’s solar industry.

The Governor is on record as declaring state incentives which aid shale gas development are positive and cost effective while incentives for solar energy are expensive and a drain on taxpayers.