Rhone Resch, the president and CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), headquartered in Washington, D.C., sat down to answer questions in regard to the strengths of the solar energy industry, as well as the talent and workforce programming required to carry the industry as it enters next generation technologies and developments.

Global Corporate Xpansion: Rhone, what sectors of the industry does the association follow and track?

Rhone Resch: We follow all sectors of the solar industry and those are primarily: photovoltaics (converting sunlight directly to electricity), solar thermal (using the sun's energy for heating and cooling), and utility-scale solar power (concentrating sunlight to generate energy on a larger scale). We also keep up with financing and other services that support the industry's growth.

GCX: At the association level, tell me about initiatives or projects you are working on to promote and grow the industry.

Resch: We are working to be sure solar is prioritized in the climate/energy bill now being debated in Congress. We are also seeking extension of some program deadlines for provisions in the economic stimulus where implementation guidance was delayed for the Treasury Tax Grant Program and DOE Loan Guarantee Program and the Manufacturing Tax Credits.

Also, we are working with our colleagues at the Solar Electric Power Association on the final details for “Solar Power International 2009,” North America's largest business-to-business solar industry conference and trade show. We are expecting 925 exhibitors, 20,000 attendees, and 200 speakers at this annual event. [This year's conference was scheduled to take place in Anaheim, Calif., from October 27 to 29.] We expect another year of record growth for the event because of the industry's growth.

The growth of Solar Power International has mimicked the growth of the industry as a whole. Last year we attracted California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger as a keynote speaker, and this year we will be hearing from the likes of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.

At Solar Power International, SEIA will announce an innovative insurance program designed especially for solar energy companies. This program will provide protection and employee benefits for solar businesses and will help them grow. As the solar industry matures, we recognize the importance for continued growth of identifying the specific needs of solar companies, both large and small.

We are also hosting the second annual “PV America” conference and trade show in Washington, D.C., from April 8 to 10, 2010. We created “PV America,” our first conference focused specifically on one technology, in response to the tremendous growth in the PV industry. We've also located this event in the Mid-Atlantic region in recognition of that area emerging as the fastest-growing region for PV in the country.

Additionally, SEIA delegates have been accepted as observers to the U.N. climate talks in December and we await acceptance of our side-event with our international solar trade association colleagues. We plan to announce collective international goals for deploying solar and the positive impact to address climate change.

GCX: Highlight the trends taking place in the solar energy industry in regard to workforce training programming and developments.

Resch: As the solar industry is growing, the need for skilled workers is growing with it. Courses and training programs for solar installation are popping up across the country. A good example can be found in Solar Energy International. Recently it has experienced a surge in people interested in taking training courses. The organization reported a 14 percent increase in enrollment in 2008, placing more than 1,700 students at the half-way point of the year. Also, the North American Board of Certified Clean Energy Practitioners saw a record number of applicants for its fall 2009 Photovoltaic and Solar Thermal Installer Certification exam, and a 129 percent increase in test takers from the spring 2009 exams. And as the 2009 Solar Decathlon in Washington, D.C., is proving, there are a growing number of engineering students focusing on innovation in solar technology.

GCX: Where are the jobs being created and where are they expected to be created?

Resch: Jobs are being created in every sector of the solar industry and across the country, even in the hardest hit states like Michigan and Ohio. We expect the eight-year extension of the solar investment tax credit to create more than 440,000 permanent jobs by 2016. These jobs are being created in every state and with the help of Google, we've been able to create a map showing where these jobs are. Visit www.seia.org/cs/solar_jobs_map.

The fastest growing sector is photovoltaic systems. In 2008, this sector grew by 81 percent. In the utility-scale power sector, there are currently 12,000 megawatts in development, which has and will continue to create thousands of jobs. These jobs won't just be in the Southwest, where utility-scale solar has the best potential, but across the supply chain around the country in engineering, manufacturing, construction and project finance, just to name a few sectors.

GCX: Tell us how manufacturers in other industries might be transitioning to support the sector.

Resch: Green jobs are not just guys with hard hats and boots on a roof. There is an entire array of jobs across the supply chain supporting the solar industry, such as bankers, accountants, carpenters, architects, construction workers, engineers and truck drivers. They are green collar workers too. That's why the Obama administration has been working to help America become the world's leading clean energy economy.

The clean energy economy has so much potential because many Americans already possess the necessary skills. We've highlighted a number of workers at our Web site who have successfully transitioned into the solar industry from other industries. They come from such diverse backgrounds as the military, semiconductors, automotive, pharmaceuticals, and even the oil industry. You can read their stories at http://seia.org/cs/about_solar_energy/solar_job_profiles.

GCX: What sectors of the solar energy industry are doing well during this economic downturn and a bit about why they are thriving?

Resch: The solar industry saw another year of record growth in 2008, despite the economic downturn. PV installations connected to the electric grid grew by 81 percent, while solar water heating installations grew by 50 percent. We expect that growth trend to continue due to recent policies, like the extension of the solar investment tax credit and improvements to it that eliminated both the cap on residential installation and the prohibition on use by utilities.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act also included numerous provisions which we believe will foster continued strong growth, including new federal loan guarantees, a Treasury Tax Grant Program, and manufacturing-related tax incentives.

In addition to the PV and solar water heating sectors, there is a pipeline of 12,000 megawatts of utility-scale projects.

GCX: What does the future hold for the growth of the domestic solar energy industry?

Resch: There's never been a better time to go solar and there have never been better reasons for our nation to develop and use solar energy. With the right policies, solar can play an even larger role in creating a diverse energy portfolio for America that reduces our dependence on foreign fossil fuel sources. Utility-scale solar power is also one of the quickest ways to deploy clean energy. Distributed generation solar technologies are a great way for individual homeowners and businesses to do their part to increase America's energy independence, while lowering their energy bills.

For those reasons, the future for the solar industry and the U.S. market is very bright. We have some of the best solar resources in the world and workers ready to take up the challenge. Solar technology was invented in America and with the right policies, we can regain our position as the world's leading solar industry.

To learn more about the solar energy industry and the Solar Energy Industries Association, visit www.seia.org.

Interview conducted by Rachel Duran.