Arizona, California, Colorado, Massachusetts, New York: residents of these states can expect prime opportunities to go solar in 2011, as these five state’s governors have made solar energy production and solar technology development a top priority for the new year and beyond.
“The Envy of the World”
We begin in Arizona, where Governor Jan Brewer plans to continue adding solar generation capacity to a state that has created the most vibrant solar manufacturing industry in the nation. Through its renewable tax incentive, Arizona has been attracting manufacturing plants of some of the biggest solar companies in the world, including First Solar, Inc. and Suntech Power. Those plants have created hundreds of clean energy jobs for Arizonans. 2011 should bring more of the same, as in her inaugural address, Governor Brewer said she wants to create a solar industry that is “the envy of the world.”
A Blast from the Past
Governor Brewer’s pledge is said to fall in line with the goals of Californians, where voters went back in time and selected Governor Jerry Brown. Brown already served two terms as the state’s governor from 1975 to 1983. While former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger was very much in favor of clean energy development, Brown also has an ambitious goal for a state that leads the nation in solar capacity. In his inaugural address, Brown said he wants to install an additional 20,000 megawatts (MW) of solar energy to the state’s electric grid by 2020.
More Solar, More Jobs
Colorado Governor Bill Ritter’s message to Coloradans is in line with Governor Brewer’s plan in Arizona: more clean energy will lead to more jobs. Governor Ritter started with this message four years ago when he joined clean energy advocates in announcing a new report suggesting that, if Colorado were to increase its renewable energy capacity by 20 percent, it would add $1.9 billion to the state’s gross domestic product. And, in an effort to appeal to the economic needs of Coloradoans, Ritter noted that using more renewable energy would create over 4,000 new state jobs with a combined yearly salary of more than $570 million.
Incentives Lead the Way
By reelecting Governor Deval Patrick, Massachusetts has shown its approval for solar energy production and legislation. Since taking office in 2007, Governor Patrick has helped along the installation of 29.8 megawatts (MW) of solar energy capacity throughout the state and created several key incentive programs that are being credited for the up-rise in clean energy: the Commonwealth Solar Program (versions I and II), the 2008 Green Communities Act and the Commonwealth Solar Stimulus. Governor Patrick’s clean energy goal for his second term? Install another 250 MW of solar capacity by 2017.
Power NY
We finish our tour in the Empire State where, en route to his recent Gubernatorial victory, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo made solar energy a top campaign priority with Power NY — a plan to stimulate New York’s solar energy industry. The plan includes a renewable energy credits program, increasing the use of solar thermal technology for water heating and replacing old power plants with modern plants that will increase clean energy capacity and reduce carbon emissions.
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