According to the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), 200,000 new domestic jobs could be created for the solar industry if the government were to extend the Department of the Treasury Grant Program by two years.
The group also backs the expansion of tax credits for solar manufacturing, while also pointing out that taking such steps would result in the generation of 10 gigawatts of clean energy by 2016. This would be sufficient to power 2 million homes, notes the SEIA.
"During the last year, the solar industry has been one of the bright spots in our economy with the creation of 17,000 new jobs. These jobs were created by the Recovery Act, and it's time for Congress to extend the programs that have given new opportunity for Americans in the solar industry," said SEIA president Rhone Resch.
The group pointed out that California has some of the strongest solar job growth potential, with up to 60,000 jobs potentially being created by expanding government incentives. Michigan, which was particularly hard hit by the recession, would stand to gain 24,000 jobs, followed by Ohio, Oregon and Texas at around 13,000 jobs each.
