Solar Rainbow wins Times Square photo contest

According to Solar Bawabeh, president and co-founder of Solar Rainbow Services, The Vote Solar Initiative's Empire State Solar Generation Photo Contest selected Solar Rainbow's photograph titled "Employed, and Saving the Planet for our Future," was featured on the digital billboard in Times Sq., 253 West 42nd St. The winning photo includes Bawabeh's two sons and niece in hard hats and Solar Rainbow t-shirts saying "Employed, and Saving the Planet for our Future" surrounding a solar panel on a recent rooftop installation. Bawabeh said, "Sustainable, green energy is key to creating a strong economy and environment for our children's futures so we thought it was important to highlight our future in the photo! I appreciate The Vote Solar Initiative to bring solar to New York and am looking forward to assisting in lobbying for a solar push in the Empire State." With offices in Brooklyn and New Jersey, Solar Rainbow is a leader in the design and installation of large-scale solar electric systems for commercial and residential customers of all sizes and has created over 50 jobs since it was founded last year and completed 2 megawatts worth of solar projects with 7 megawatts currently under construction and an additional pipeline of about 30 megawatts in the design stage. The focus of the Empire State Solar Generation Photo Contest is to show photographs of real New Yorkers displaying their love for solar and asking for support to pass the New York Solar Jobs Act of 2011 (S.4178/A.5713). The contest drew entries from across NYS featuring pictures of solar businesses, customers and fans posing in front of panels. There were more than 10,000 emails and 31,500 letters to lawmakers in support of the New York Solar Jobs Act following this initiative. The New York Solar Jobs Act would build a competitive new solar energy marketplace in New York by requiring the state's electricity providers to obtain an increasing portion of their electricity from solar power until they achieve 3% in 2025. The bi-partisan legislation is sponsored by assemblymember Steven Englebright (D-Setauket) and Senator George Maziarz (R-C, Newfane).