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CHARLOTTE -- The North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association is seeing green in going solar.

The energy sector has seen dramatic growth in the state the past few years, even during the recession, because state lawmakers passed legislation helping out the industry.

“The last four years, we have gone from 15 people to 100 people,” said Bob Kingery, CEO and co-founder of Southern Energy Management.

Legislation was passed four years ago requiring 0.2 percent of energy come from the sun. The industry says it needs that doubled to continue growth.

“As small as that sounds, it is very meaningful to get electricity close to the rest of the way down in what we pay in retail rates right now,” North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association executive director Ivan Urlaub said.

Dozens of industry leaders met with lawmakers Friday to discuss pending legislation to increase those standards.

“If they don't, we'll see some businesses leave the state. We'll see some business shut down. If they do pass it, what we will see just in next year and a half is close to 1,000 jobs created,” said Urlaub.

The solar industry estimates 10,000 jobs in the next decade. With the cost of solar decreasing 50 percent the past few years, the industry says the savings can cover the cost of increasing solar standards.

“Renewable energy is about jobs in North Carolina. We're going to create thousands more jobs by doubling the solar set aside," Kingery said.

Duke Energy says it's working toward achieving the current mandates and will abide by whatever regulations are passed.

The bill to increase the solar set aside, or standard, is expected to be introduced in Raleigh next week.