New SEIA president outlines priorities for 2017
Abigail Ross Hopper, the newly named president and CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), outlined her top priorities for 2017, including ensuring that federal tax credits that benefit the solar industry remain in place under the new administration.
Hopper also listed as areas of focus the need to keep energy markets open, fair and robust at the state level, and promoting equal access to solar energy and jobs.
Hopper previously worked as the director of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, energy adviser to Maryland Gov. Martin O’ Malley and deputy general counsel to the Maryland Public Service Commission. She will officially begin in her role as president and CEO at SEIA on Jan. 17.
In a conference call with reporters on Thursday, Hopper said SEIA is “cautiously optimistic” that federal tax credits will stay in place, in part because they were put in place by bipartisan agreements.
Legislation signed into law in late 2015 extended the 30 percent Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC) for both residential and commercial projects through the end of 2019. The extension of that tax credit has encouraged investment and fueled growth in the solar industry. Thanks to the ITC, by 2020, SEIA forecasts the solar industry is expected to employ more than 420,000 workers.
Hopper also expressed optimism about possible challenges to clean energy related to the incoming Trump administration.
“We think that the solar industry has a strong story to tell that resonates with our president-elect in terms of job creation, innovation and investment, energy security and energy certainty in terms of price, and so we feel comfortable there but are always happy to engage with a new administration,” Hopper said.
Hopper identified defending net metering and playing an active role in rate design as two possible measures SEIA may take to maintain open markets at the state level.
The new president and CEO also said she would work to ensure solar is accessible to households of all incomes and that jobs in the solar industry are accessible to all as well.
“It is incredibly important to me to make sure that we are serving all of Americans and all of our citizens,” Hopper said.
Fueled in part by declining solar prices, recent data show the growth of the U.S. solar market has exceeded all previous quarterly installation records. According to GTM Research and SEIA’s fourth quarter 2016 U.S. Solar Market Insight Report, 4,143 megawatts of solar photovoltaic were installed in the third quarter. The fourth quarter 2016 figures are also expected to surpass records.
Meanwhile, Hopper stressed the importance of unity throughout the industry and working with all sectors in solar.
“I think that there is acceptance that creating a bigger pot and creating strong solar policy across the board and creating sustainable solar policy across the board will benefit all parts of the industry … and that we are definitely stronger as an industry when we are united in our approach,” Hopper said.
