Springfield, PA –  Representative Bryan Lentz, the Democratic nominee for Congress in Pennsylvania’s 7th Congressional District, toured Aztec Solar Power on Wednesday for the eleventh stop of his 10-week, 25-stop economic tour. The King of Prussia-based company is a leading installer and designer of solar energy systems for homes and businesses in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Florida. During the hour-long visit, Lentz met with company executives and employees.

Aztec Solar has been adding jobs rapidly since it was founded about three years ago, growing to a current work force of about 55 installers, engineers and sales people from an initial staff of three employees. A potential plan to open a factory to manufacture solar panels locally could result in a significant expansion of the company’s work force as well.

The company’s rapid growth showed how targeted incentives could aid the development of an industry that will be a future source of good-paying jobs and benefit the nation’s energy security, Lentz said.

“The clean energy economy is going to be an important local provider of new jobs and a key factor in strengthening our national security by helping end our dependence on foreign oil,” Lentz said. “The rapid growth of a company like Aztec Solar Power and the good-paying jobs it provides show that the investments we are making are paying off and helping lay the foundation for future growth.”

Lentz has been a strong advocate for the clean energy industry as a representative in Harrisburg. He authored legislation that gave businesses incentives to invest in clean energy, and supported proposals that required Pennsylvania’s utilities to generate more power from renewable energy sources.

Lentz launched his 10-week, 25-stop economic listening tour at the end of July. Upcoming stops on the tour include a town hall forum on jobs and the economy in Brookhaven this Saturday, and a tour of projects associated with the revitalization of Lansdowne’s business district next Monday.

Lentz has already introduced a five-point proposal for generating job growth, including giving companies incentives to invest and expand, and providing educational opportunities to train employees in fields where demand is growing, like math and engineering. He said he would use the ten-week tour of businesses in Delaware, Chester and Montgomery counties to further fine tune his proposal to target the demands of local businesses and working families.

Lentz has made saving and creating jobs the cornerstone of his campaign for Congress. He is the only candidate with a published plan to get our economy moving again and the only candidate who supports Wall Street reform and the creation of a consumer financial protection agency to ensure another collapse does not happen.  Lentz has also pledged to end tax breaks for companies that ship jobs overseas while his opponent Pat Meehan has signed a pledge that has bound him to oppose legislation that has been introduced to end those tax breaks.

A former Airborne Ranger, criminal prosecutor and Iraq War veteran, Bryan Lentz currently serves in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from Delaware County. He was awarded both the Bronze Star for Service and the War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal for his military service. He lives in Swarthmore with his wife Jennifer and their son Thomas.