Few people realize how relatively new incentives are to the solar industry. While the U.S. has argued for decades that solar is a priority for our energy future incentives have only been around for the past 5 years.

Rhone Resch, president of the Solar Energy Industry Association (SEIA) talked to CNBC’s Erin Burnett last month about the benefits of solar and the critical role incentives play in the consumer decision-making process.

“The oil and gas industry has had permanent federal subsidies since 1916. The nuclear industry had the same since the 1950s. The solar industry, however, had to wait until the 2005 Energy Bill before we received our current tax credits,” said Resch. “And, even then, Congress only enacted them for 2 years and put a $2,000 cap on them. Ultimately, you can’t build an industry around a 2 year policy.”

Resch added, “I am happy to say that in the 2008 bailout bill they extended the tax credits for solar for 8 additional years… really opening the doors for future growth of solar.”