Washington (July 7, 2015) – With solar installation expected to double in the next two years, the White House today announced a series of new initiatives and investments to expand solar power to low and middle-income areas. There are now more than 20,000 megawatts of installed solar capacity in the United States, with more than 60 percent of it installed in just the past two years. In 2007, the United States installed 224 megawatts of solar domestically. In 2014, it was more than 30 times that amount: 7,000 megawatts. New analysis released just last week reports that actual solar electricity production in the United States is 50 percent higher than previous U.S. Energy Information Agency estimates, which do not include data that captures solar rooftop installations, a booming source of electricity production.

“Solar power is fueling the clean energy revolution and everyone should have access to its benefits,” said Senator Markey, a member of the Environment and Public Works Committee and co-Chair of the Senate Climate Clearinghouse. “We’re producing more solar power than ever before, and that means more American jobs, less pollution, cleaner air and better health. These new initiatives from the Obama administration will go a long way toward ending a legacy of fossil fuel pollution that has disproportionately impacted low-income communities and promoting a clean energy future that is inclusive and accessible to all. Congress must now ensure we continue this sunny trend of solar deployment and extend tax breaks for these projects.”  

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