Leaders in the solar industry teamed up to form The Solar Alliance to persuade state lawmakers, regulators and utilities to establish more effective solar policies and programs throughout the country.

The solar industry is pushing the federal government to implement policies that would provide incentives to go solar, such as a national Renewable Portfolio Standard that would set goals for renewable energy, net-metering, or even tax credits.

The alliance appointed Hon. Claudine Schneider, former five-term U.S. Congresswoman from Rhode Island, as the group's president.

The alliance is comprised of the following solar electricity manufacturers, integrators and installers: American Solar Electric, BP Solar, Conergy (CEYHF.PK), DT Solar, Energy Innovations, Evergreen Solar (NASDAQ ESLR), First Solar (FSLR), Kyocera Solar (NYSE KYO), Mitsubishi Electric, MMA Renewable Ventures, PPM Energy, Inc. REC Solar, Sanyo Energy (TYO-SANYY), Schott Solar, Sharp Solar, SolarWorld, SPG Solar, Sun Edison, SunPower (SPWR), Suntech (NYSE STP), United Solar and Xantrex (XTX.TL).

The alliance has active campaigns in California, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, North Carolina, Arizona, Texas and Florida, and plans on hitting up Ohio and New York next.