Arizona takes step back in solar

PHOENIX — Big solar states such as Arizona and California have seen a drop in non-residential solar installations and an industry expert said it’s tied to cutbacks in state-level incentives.

A report from GTM Research and the Solar Energy Industries Association says the solar industry grew by 33 percent nationally in the first three months of the year compared to the same period last year.

Michael Neary, former head of the Arizona Solar Energy Industries Association, said the Arizona Corporation Commission eliminated some very important incentives earlier this year for commercial solar that had been a driving force in job creation.

“It affected companies who install solar electric systems primarily, but also thermal systems were covered under that,” Neary said.

Neary has been in the solar field since 1981 and said there’s no question that the industry faces changes even in a state that is geared toward solar energy.

“We can invest in our future by using more solar. Or we can let it ride. Either way it’s gonna come,” he said.

Neary said if the corporation commission would reverse course and offer more incentives, Arizona would still be leading in job creation related to solar.

“The utilities have found solar to be a great resource for them. It can go up very quickly. It doesn’t take as long to build a solar plant as a fossil fuel plant,” he said.

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