Pennsylvania Solar Refugees Take Note

Hello Readers,

It's been two years since the tanking Pennsylvania SREC market forced me to leave my beloved home state in search of new work in the solar industry. In December of 2011, I became a refugee of the Pennsylvania solar industry. I moved first to Delaware and eventually to Massachusetts to find gainful employment in an industry that seems to be growing rapidly everywhere except Pennsylvania.

In case, you aren't familiar with the saga of the Pennsylvania's solar market, the regulations and incentives that helped get it started, and the political inaction that forced it to nosedive at the first signs of progress, I'll point you to a few articles from my personal history...

• Pennsylvania HB 1580 - Fixing the SREC Market
• Pennsylvania HB 1580 - Bill Introduced
• Pennsylvania Solar Jobs put in perspective
• Response to Inaction on PA HB 1580
• Update: Inaction on HB 1580

Anecdotally, I know of at least a dozen other Pennsylvania solar refugees, and I expect that there are hundreds more out there. Whether you stayed in Pennsylvania but had to change industries or - like me - you were forced to leave the state to remain employed in a socially and environmentally responsible industry, you are a solar refugee!

For those in-state solar refugees, please remember to vote in the upcoming 2014 gubernatorial primary and election! If you are a displaced solar refugee, like me, please encourage your friends and family to take a close look at the energy and environmental policies of the candidates before voting.

By continuing to miss opportunities while the solar industry is still gaining traction globally (as appears to be the current governor's policy), Pennsylvania will lose out in the long run. Therefore, the outcome of the governor's race will not only determine the fate of the Pennsylvania solar industry for at least the next four years... it will likely ripple through the next four decades.

While many declared candidates mention the issues surrounding fracking on their campaign websites, few candidates have any mention of a comprehensive energy policy. As far as I can tell, only two candidates have any serious energy policy experience or a plan to reinvigorate the renewable energy industries in Pennsylvania (giving solar refugees a chance to return home): John Hanger and Kate McGinty.

John Hanger: http://www.hangerforgovernor.com/an_energy_policy_that_works

Kate McGinty: http://mcginty.ngpvanhost.com/press-releases/mcginty-outlines-jobs-plan-make-pa-leader-energy-development-while-protecting

As we near the primary in April, I hope to find out more about these two exciting candidates.

Electorally,

Sean Diamond