New Solar Hotspot: The Midwest

Solar companies may start looking inward, and around the Mississippi, for new business.

That's the word from Rosalind Jackson, one of the people at the advocacy and policy group Vote Solar. At Solar Power International this week, Vote Solar spent a lot of time talking to various state officials and the interest in solar in the middle of the country.

Missouri voters passed a referendum for renewable power and the legislature is now assigned the task of coming up with companion legislation and regulations to make it happen. Illinois is expected to build out 750 megawatts of solar capacity. Kansas is studying net metering. Earlier this week, Ohio and Michigan issued reports predicting green tech job growth.

"Pennsylvania," she said with emphasis.

Ontario, just North of this region, is already a booming solar spot. Over time, one can likely expect to see these states adopt the tax credits and other incentives adopted elsewhere.

So if you want to expand the market share for your microinverters or thin film BIPV tiles, you might want to start introducing yourself to the electrical contractors and others in the Jefferson City area.