The Pursuit of New Ways to Boost Solar Development (issuing tradable credits has promising results)

[OKIsItJustMe]

http://www.e360.yale.edu/content/feature.msp?id=2208

09 Nov 2009: Report

The Pursuit of New Ways
to Boost Solar Development

The solar power boom in Germany, Spain, and other places has been fueled by government subsidies. But now some U.S. states — led, perhaps surprisingly, by New Jersey — are pioneering a different approach: issuing tradable credits that can be sold on the open market. So far, the results have been promising.

by jon r. luoma

California is the number one U.S. state for solar power generation — not a surprise. The country’s most populous state, with an inclination for progressive environmental policies also happens to enjoy sun in abundance.

What state might be number two? Surely some other large southerly state. Arizona? Maybe sunshine-state Florida?

Not even close. Number two for solar electric power, and number one in total solar installations on a per capita basis, is small and not-so-sunny New Jersey, more known environment-wise for its abundance of Superfund sites. What’s perhaps most remarkable is how quickly the state got to the runner-up spot, from six solar installations only seven years ago to 4,340 today. Even in the throes of the recession, solar installers (120 of them today, versus two at the turn of the millennium) are reporting booming business.

“It’s just really taken off,” says Dan Potkay, president of New Jersey-based Brite Idea Energy, a solar installation company. Solar panels are not only appearing on residential rooftops, but on schools, churches, convention centers, and gyms, and as electricity-generating roofs over stretches of paved parking lots. Ground-mounted farms of solar panels are even planned for at least two of those infamous (albeit now cleaned-up) New Jersey Superfund landfills.

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[ItNerd4life]

1. I wish more states would creates incentives

not just for solar but wind as well.