Solar Advocates Optimistic For Industry In 2015

"Story By Mark Remillard, ktar.com December 30, 2014 @ 5:00 am -- PHOENIX" -- Despite some ups and downs in 2014, some solar advocates say they are optimistic about the future of the industry in 2015. Advocates such as Bret Fanshaw with Environment Arizona said he has seen far more growth in solar energy than he could have expected over the past few years and that includes 2014. "Over the last three years Arizona (solar) grew on average at 142 percent per year in the state and so it's really taking off," he said. Part of the industry's boom is thanks to many of Arizona's city governments jumping on board and opting to use clean energy. "In the face of some opposition at the state level to advancing solar, local government is really taking on solar energy as an option to power their cities," Fanshaw said. "We've seen officials in Mesa, Mayor Mark Mitchell in Tempe and some folks in Phoenix really working to make sure we're moving solar and clean energy forward at the local levels." In March, Tempe completed its largest solar project to date by powering its South Water Treatment Plant with solar energy, while earlier this year Mesa installed solar systems on one of the city's fire and police stations as well as on a multigenerational center. Some public utilities have also given advocates such as Fanshaw reason to be optimistic with increased incentive programs for solar customers.