SEIA announced that it is adding the Iowa Solar Energy Trade Association (ISETA) as an official state affiliate.
ISETA becomes the 20th SEIA affiliate, joining its neighbors Minnesota, Wisconsin and Missouri in the growing network of state solar advocacy groups. These formal partnerships help to connect regional organizations to additional resources and the national effort to promote solar in markets around the country.
“Iowa might be known for wind energy now, but our partnership with ISETA will help to make Iowa a solar leader in the years ahead,” said Abigail Ross Hopper, president and CEO of SEIA. “It’s critical that we have strong advocates and partners in the states, especially in regions as important to the Solar+ Decade as the Midwest. Now it’s time to get to work on policies that will bring quality jobs, private investment and clean energy infrastructure to Iowa and communities across the country.”
Iowa installed 162 MW of new solar capacity in 2020, more than doubling the state’s total solar capacity in just one year. However, Iowa’s solar industry is in its infancy and there is more work to be done to make Iowa a solar leader. Iowa currently ranks 35th in installed solar capacity in the United States, but over the next five years, the state is forecasted to fall to 42nd nationally without policy changes.
“As part of a national organization, ISETA will be able to build on the many economic and environmental benefits solar has created in Iowa over the last decade,” said Lewis Butler, president of ISETA. “As our industry continues to grow, it’s important we share best practices with other states in order to benefit customers and find ways to support renewable energy projects. We look forward to our partnership with SEIA.”
The solar industry employs 770 Iowans and supports a robust manufacturing and supply chain with at least 50 solar companies working in the state. According to the National Solar Jobs Census 2020, more than 231,000 Americans work in the solar industry, and in Iowa, solar jobs have increased by 268% since 2012. To build a 100% clean energy economy by 2035, America will need at least 900,000 solar workers, which will include thousands of career opportunities for Iowans.
SEIA has developed strategic partnerships with numerous state and regional advocacy nonprofits, known as SEIA Affiliates. These organizations have demonstrated leadership on policy and regulatory matters, actively engaged with the solar industry in their respective territories and offered grassroots support for SEIA’s federal campaigns, among other accomplishments.
