The weak economy has forced some new solar companies to fold, but an expert says the industry remains healthy overall. And he says Tennessee is one of the few states to seize on solar’s potential, giving it an edge going forward.
Tom Nicholas is regional director for the Solar Electric Power Association, a nonprofit that advises companies on solar technology and policy. He says in any emerging industry, a few newcomers aren’t going to make it. With solar, some that pinned their hopes on steady economic growth have been forced to sell out to other companies.
“It’s not a bad thing; we don’t dwell on the ones that go away because it’s probably making it better for everyone else, because they’re consolidating to a point that we’re not going to have one or two, we’re still going to have twenty or thirty large players, instead of 200 maybe players out there.”
Nicholas says when a company sells out its product usually survives, as does the workforce, though workers may have to move.
Nicholas also says Tennessee has established a strong foundation of research and companies, which will be a boost for solar here going forward.
On Air - 90.3 WPLN-FM