Dive Brief:
- Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) President Rhone Resch said he will step down, Greentech Media reports, after heading the solar industry trade group for twelve years. Resch said he will seek “new challenges and opportunities” because the industry has “never been better positioned to succeed.”
- Under Resch, SEIA grew from 65 member companies in 2004 to more than 1,000 members today, he noted in his resignation letter. Resch also led the solar industry's lobbying efforts on 2008’s eight-year Investment Tax Credit (ITC), 2009’s stimulus bill, and 2015’s long-term renewal of the ITC.
- During his tenure, the solar industry installed over 30 GW of capacity, drove the cost down over 80%, and brought $150 billion into the U.S. economy, he wrote. “We expanded state RPS’s across the country and protected and enhanced net energy metering laws to expand markets.”
Dive Insight:
Indicative of Resch’s leadership was his 2014 speech kicking off the fight to get the ITC extended.
“Make no mistake about it, there are people and groups that will do anything — and say anything — to try and stop solar dead in its tracks,” Resch said. But, he promised, “As sure as World War I started in 1914, if the Koch Brothers and their allies come after solar, 2014 will be the beginning of World War III.”
Among the achievements noted in his resignation letter, Resch called attention to making certain the solar industry's voice was heard by Congress and the White House, despite having an initial budget of only $350,000. Today, SEIA’s budget is $12 million.
Solar now employs over 200,000 Americans and is expected to build 20 GW of new capacity yearly through 2020, according to GTM Research.
Though criticized for a high salary by solar industry standards and his neutrality during the Chinese tariff debate, Resch's legacy “is undoubtedly positive" for the sector, Greentech reports.
