The solar energy industry is an emerging economic engine for the
U.S. In 2008, during a major economic downturn, the solar industry
posted its third consecutive year of record growth. Total installed
capacity for solar energy in the U.S. grew by 1,265 megawatts,
bringing total capacity to 9,183 megawatts. I expect 2009 to be
another year of record growth.
As someone whose job involves working to expand the U.S. solar
market, I am excited about the thousands of jobs our industry is
creating and its tremendous potential for coming years. Many new
solar-related jobs are in manufacturing and engineering, but there
also is a great need for installers of photovoltaic (PV) panels on
roofs. Overall, tremendous opportunities are available for
entrepreneurs who want to be at the forefront of this emerging
industry.
When most people think about solar installations, they picture
panels installed on the roof of a home or business. These are PV
systems and solar thermal (also called solar water...
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