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Washington, D.C. - The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) is honored to present Congressman Tom Reed with the prestigious SEIA Solar Champion Award, an honor bestowed upon entities or individuals who have helped strengthen solar power in America. Reed was named on Thursday by the association as the latest award recipient for his efforts to promote greater use of solar energy to advance our nation's energy diversity.

"Support for solar energy is support for American jobs and innovation," said Tom Kimbis, SEIA's interim president.  "Congressman Reed has demonstrated through his leadership, his public support and his voting record that he recognizes the enormous benefits – from national security to economic development – bestowed on our nation through solar energy. We credit him  with recognizing that solar is not a partisan technology, thank him for his support, and proudly present him with this well-deserved award."

Reed has been presented with the Solar Champion Award in particular for working to preserve and extend the ITC. As a result, SEIA estimates that solar jobs will more than double to 420,000 by the end of the decade from 209,000 American solar jobs now. In addition, solar power in this nation will more than triple during that time, hitting 100 gigawatts by 2020, enough to power 20 million American homes.

Reed has long established himself as a reasoned, thoughtful leader on the House Ways and Means Committee. He further cemented this reputation when he stepped up his efforts in defense of solar in 2015 to ensure committee and House leadership included an extension of the ITC as part of the final tax and budget deal. To his credit, Reed recognizes that an 'all of the above' approach to American energy policy must include cutting-edge technologies, like solar, in order to effectively conserve American resources, create jobs and achieve American energy security.

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