MAURICE HINCHEY FOR CONGRESS

Rep. Maurice Hinchey, D-Hurley, who helped create the consortium and attended the job fair Friday, thinks the solar industry could create thousands more jobs in the region.

Bill Jordan, project manager for Axio Power, said that if the state would create a renewable energy incentive program like the one in New Jersey — where power companies must buy excess energy from individuals — the industry would create even more jobs.

"If we get that change, we're going to have a lot more solar energy installed," he said.