CARSON CITY, Nev.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today advocates at Vote Solar and Clean Energy Project NV released a new report on the expected economic and job creation benefits of developing solar on homes and businesses across Nevada. The analysis is released as the state lawmakers consider the Solar Jobs Now proposal, which would increase the amount of electricity generation coming from these distributed solar energy projects in Nevada to 400 megawatts (MW) by 2020, enough to power 80,000 homes.
Nevada has a strong record of success in large-scale solar power development, but the market for smaller rooftop or distributed solar systems remains largely untapped because the state’s SolarGenerations rebate program for customer-owned solar is underfunded and oversubscribed. Nevada state legislators are considering a new policy that would expand and streamline the SolarGenerations program to meet the 400 MW distributed goal and deliver long-term economic benefits to the state.
“Solar energy creates more jobs per megawatt than any other energy resource. But in order for Nevada to tap solar’s tremendous economic potential, it needs policies that provide sustained opportunities for residents and businesses to go solar alongside traditional power generators,” said Claudia Eyzaguirre, Vote Solar’s policy lead for Nevada. “The Solar Jobs Now proposal provides that opportunity. We’re excited to see strong support for the policy from both local and national solar companies eager to invest in building Nevada’s solar future.”
“For years Nevada’s SolarGenerations program has enabled numerous homeowners to put solar energy on their homes creating a new industry for Nevada. However, the successful program has been limited due to its narrow scope. Giving stability to the program through the Solar Jobs Now proposal will unleash more private investment through smart policies that deliver lasting economic opportunity and value to Nevadans,” said Executive Director of Clean Energy Project, Lydia Ball.
Report findings indicate that increasing the amount of distributed solar in Nevada from 35 MW today to 400 MW by 2020 is likely to deliver the following economic benefits:
- Create an average of 1159 high quality clean energy jobs per year over the 8-year program.
- Produce $1.34 billion in total economic output (ie: value of goods and services) as a result of the installation and operation of the systems.
- Create $564 million in wages and salaries for the local workforce over the lifetime of the systems.
- Generate $68.1 million in sales taxes paid to help the state meets its budgetary needs.
Vote Solar and Clean Energy Project NV used the Job and Economic Development Impact (JEDI) model developed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) as well as inputs and assumptions drawn from real-world experience of local Nevada solar energy system installers to develop the full report. A strong distributed solar energy market could potentially also support a new in-state manufacturing base and associated economic benefits, although such manufacturing development was not included in this analysis.
Full text of the report is available at: http://votesolar.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/NV_DG_Econ_Benefits_study.pdf
About Vote Solar:
The Vote Solar Initiative is a grassroots non-profit organization working to combat climate change and foster economic development by bringing solar energy into the mainstream across the U.S. www.votesolar.org
About Clean Energy Project NV:
Clean Energy Project is a non-partisan, non-profit tax deductible organization dedicated to moving Nevada’s clean energy economy forward. Clean Energy Project focuses on educating the public on the vast benefits of fully developing a clean energy economy that produces good jobs, stabilizes energy bills and creates energy independence for our nation. http://www.cleanenergyprojectnv.org/