James Ince and Sam Taylor put forth a proposal for organization of a solar energy trade association.
The first call for incentive legislation came in Feb. 1973, before SEIA was formally established, in a letter from Sheldon Butt to Sen. Hubert Humphrey. The Energy Tax Act is finally passed in 1978 and includes solar energy tax incentives.
Largely due to the efforts of Sheldon Butt, S.3234 - The Solar Energy Research, Development, and Demonstration Act, is passed by the 93rd Congress and signed by President Ford before SEIA was formally established.
Five industry members meet in the noisy basement of the DC Hilton Hotel to establish a national trade association for the solar industry.
At the International Solar Expo 75, sponsored by SEIA, ERDA and FEA in Washington, DC in May 1975, in a preamble to the three-day program, President Gerald Ford wrote, “The goal of this nation’s solar energy program is to develop and introduce at the earliest feasible time those applications of solar energy that can be made economically attractive and environmentally acceptable as alternative energy sources…I pledge my continued support to these efforts.” On the final day of the Expo, SEIA awarded Congressman Mike McCormack with its first “Man-of-the-Year” award.
SEIA founds the Solar Energy Research and Education Foundation (SEREF), which would eventually be renamed The Solar Foundation in later years, to develop solar equipment codes and standards.
CAL-SEIA becomes the first state chapter of the Solar Energy Industries Association with 37 charter members.
The Carter Administration's National Energy Plan sets goal for America to run on 20% solar by 2000.
By early 1978 SEIA had grown to eight divisions, more than fifteen, standing committees and four state chapters
The Energy Tax Act of 1978 becomes law, providing a 15 percent solar tax credit for the first time.
