SOARING SUN

U.S. Solar Energy Industry Sets Record for Installations, Achieves 140 Percent Annual Growth in Best Quarter Ever; Industry's Record Growth is Threatened by Looming Expiration of Treasury Department's Successful 1603 Program
December 14, 2011 (Solar Energy Industries Association and Greentech Media Research)

"The U.S. solar industry installed a quarterly record for new solar electric capacity in Q3 with 449 MW…More U.S. solar electric capacity came online in Q3 2011 than all of 2009 combined, and Q4 2011 is predicted to be even larger.

"However, the U.S. solar market faces substantial market uncertainty with financing and political risks, including the looming expiration of Section 1603 Treasury Program…"

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"Grid-connected PV installations in Q3 2011 grew 39 percent over Q2 2011 and 140 percent over Q3 2010…The utility PV market installed over 200 MW in Q3 2011, a greater than 400 percent increase in installations over Q2 2011…The residential PV market grew 21 percent over Q2 2011 to reach nearly 75 MW.

"California regained a substantial share of overall PV installation in Q3 2011 with 44 percent; the next six largest state markets combined comprised 45 percent of quarterly installations…"