WASHINGTON, DC – The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), the national trade association for the U.S. solar energy industry, and the BlueGreen Alliance, a national partnership of labor unions and environmental organizations, today announced a new partnership to help support their mutual goal — building a robust clean energy economy to power America.

Under the new partnership, SEIA and the BlueGreen Alliance will collaborate on communication efforts, events, policy, and research activities promoting the growth of solar energy markets and jobs throughout the nation. SEIA’s work to grow the U.S. solar energy industry directly supports BlueGreen Alliance’s own initiative to expand clean energy industries, create jobs and ensure the U.S. retains its competitive edge within the global energy economy.

“SEIA is the country’s leading advocate for expansion of solar energy, and we are excited to work with this organization to expand this industry and to create good jobs,” said BlueGreen Alliance Executive Director David Foster. “With this partnership, we are bringing together the solar industry and the growing number of Americans who are committed to creating quality jobs by expanding the clean energy economy.”

“The BlueGreen Alliance is one of the leading clean energy advocacy groups in the U.S, and we’re proud to formally acknowledge our ongoing work with them,” said SEIA President and CEO Rhone Resch. “With a work force of 120,000 and growing demand, solar energy is now one of the fastest-growing industries in the U.S. Our future work with BlueGreen Alliance, a friend in the labor and environmental movement, better positions us to collaborate in the race for our clean energy future.”

Today, the U.S. has 8,500 megawatts (MW) of installed solar electric capacity — enough to power more than 1.3 million American homes — and 40 percent of our existing capacity, or 3,300 MW, was installed last year alone, making solar one of the fastest-growing industries in the nation. America’s solar industry now employs nearly 120,000 workers at 5,600 companies — most of which are small businesses spread across every state in the union.

The BlueGreen Alliance has strongly advocated for state and federal policies that expand and support the solar energy industry. Recently, Minnesota passed an important new solar energy standard into law and the BlueGreen Alliance and its partners and allies played a key role passing that legislation. The law mandates a solar standard of 1.5 percent by 2020 for investor-owned utilities, with a goal of 10 percent solar energy by 2030.

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About SEIA®:
Established in 1974, the Solar Energy Industries Association® is the national trade association of the U.S. solar energy industry. Through advocacy and education, SEIA and its 1,000 member companies are building a strong solar industry to power America. As the voice of the industry, SEIA works to make solar a mainstream and significant energy source by expanding markets, removing market barriers, strengthening the industry and educating the public on the benefits of solar energy. www.seia.org

About BlueGreen Alliance:
The BlueGreen Alliance is a national partnership of labor unions and environmental organizations dedicated to expanding the number and quality of jobs in the clean economy. Launched in 2006, the strategic partnership now brings together major U.S. labor unions and America’s most influential environmental organizations and unites nearly 15 million members and supporters in pursuit of good jobs, a clean environment and a clean economy. Visit www.bluegreenalliance.org.