As you might imagine, there’s a ton of solar information available to business leaders, but where to begin? We’ve handpicked six great sites that offer insight into the latest solar incentives and policies, in addition to the activism that’s shaping them both.
Whether you’re just starting out or well on your path to going solar, take advantage of these resources to help make, and support, your renewable energy decisions.
- Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA)
www.seia.org
SEIA is a nonprofit trade association of the U.S. solar industry, and their site offers up-to-date insight on policies and advocacy nationwide. For businesses just starting down the road to solar, it’s a quick and easy way to learn more about your state’s renewable energy policy. For those who’ve already gone solar, it provides a great way to stay informed about—and involved in—the protection and expansion of solar in the U.S.
- Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency (DSIRE)
www.dsireusa.org
Run by the N.C. Clean Energy Technology Center and funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, DSIRE is a great starting point for finding the local, state and federal renewable energy initiatives—including solar—in your area. Search by city, state or ZIP code for the latest policy and incentive information to help guide your solar projects. Be sure to check out their Other Resources page for links to state, federal and international clean energy organizations.
- U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) SunShot Initiative Resource Center
www4.eere.energy.gov/solar/sunshot/resource_center
The DOE’s SunShot Initiative works to “make it faster, easier and more affordable for Americans to choose solar energy in their daily lives.” And that effort certainly applies to business leaders looking for more details about what it takes to go solar. Inside the Solar Energy Resource Center, you’ll find research and resources on solar basics, standards and codes, solar incentives, financing options, project planning, permitting and much more.
- SolarPermit.org
solarpermit.org
As their name suggests, SolarPermit.org is a go-to guide to the solar panel permitting requirements of more than 18,000 cities and counties across the country—so, most likely, yours. The info you’ll find on this interactive, crowd-sourced website is populated by solar installers, based on their experience in the places they do business. Users then give a “thumbs up” or “thumbs down” to verify any new information added to the site.
- Greentech Media
www.greentechmedia.com/articles/category/markets-and-policy
Greentech Media offers market analysis, business news and in-person events that “inform and connect players in the clean energy industry,” with a focus on solar power. Their website provides coverage written by journalists, expert contributors and analysts from their own research group, and is a great place to stay current on what’s happening—and ahead—in the world of renewable energy.
- Union of Concerned Scientists
www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy
Founded in 1969 by faculty and students from M.I.T., the Union of Concerned Scientists is a nonprofit advocacy organization made up of professional scientists and private citizens. Their work on clean energy initiatives, policies and their adoption is helping move governments and businesses toward renewable energy options, and this site offers insight into their latest thoughts, work and activities.
