The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) released national polling data from the Gotham Research Group.  This poll showed that 75% of those surveyed support the development of solar energy plants on public lands.

“The polling data we are releasing confirms what we already knew, “said SEIA President and CEO Rhone Resch.  “The American public overwhelming supports the development of solar energy.  It is time for our elected officials to respond to this high public demand and enact policies that allow solar to compete with other energy sources on a level playing field.”

“The 17 gigawatts of utility-scale solar projects proposed in the United States offer great opportunities for companies like ours, “said Tom Hecht, Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Schott Solar.

“With a successful 10 megawatt pilot project, more that 3,000 megawatts in the pipeline and with recent PPA’a with Nevada Energy, we are primed for explosive growth in the U.S. said Tom Georgis, Vice President, Development, Solar Reserve.

Other industry leaders also discussed the promising outlook for utility scale solar in the U.S. such as Sean Garren, Clean Energy Advocate, Environment America who stated, “Solar Energy will play a major role in weaning the nation from dangerous, polluting and expensive forms of energy.  America can and must figure out how to tap the heat and power of the sun.” The findings of the survey are based on polling conducted from February 24-26, 2010 among a representative sample of 500 U. S. adults