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Solar Manufacturing Jobs Creation Act To Expand Solar ITC Eligibility

November 13, 2009 | 3 Comments

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Washington, D.C., United States [RenewableEnergyWorld.com] U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and U.S. Congressman Dave Camp (R-MI) today announced the Solar Manufacturing Jobs Creation Act. The bi-partisan legislation would create a tax credit to support solar manufacturing in the U.S.

Senator Stabenow joined fellow Senators Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and Michael Bennet (D-CO) to introduce the legislation this week in the Senate. Congressman Camp will be introducing companion legislation in the House later this month.

“Michigan companies continue to lead the way in solar manufacturing, creating good-paying jobs and laying the foundation for 21 st century manufacturing,” Stabenow said. “As a member of the Senate Finance Committee, I co-authored the first-ever tax credit for manufacturers of advanced technologies in the recovery act. This bill will provide additional tax credits for solar equipment manufacturers that will help us win the global race against China and other countries to produce solar technology in the clean energy economy.”

According to the Solar Energy Industry Association (SEIA), the U.S. produced more than 40% of the word’s solar photovoltaic (PV) cells a decade ago. In 2008, the U.S. produced only 5% of the world’s solar cells. They estimate that the tax credits in this legislation will generate 315,000 new domestic jobs.

Under the Solar Manufacturing Jobs Creation Act, equipment and facilities used to manufacture solar power technology would be added to the eligible property list for the current investment tax credit (ITC). These technologies include solar cells, silicon, evacuated tubes, and flat-plate solar collectors.

Solar Energy

3 Reader Comments

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nrgnorm

November 15, 2009

We better get our act togther America

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bob-condon-161229

November 18, 2009

This is a move in the right direction. I think there are too few Americans interested in the Solar, Wind, Geothermal, Biogeneration & ocean generated energy. We need to educate the public right down to elementary school science classes on what we can do in the alternative energy field. Young minds need to be encouraged in College and in technical schools to understand these fledgling industries and the need to spurn further innovation, produce graduates ranging from general maintenance and repair technicians to theoriticians who can permit our "rust belt" industrial mentality to acend to a new goal which will exceed the benefits that were rendered by the industrial revolution of the 20th Century.
Just think about the " cash for clunkers" program. What long standing benefit did that $2 billion provide? Had we allocated that funding to alterntive energy development, with proper oversight in it's distribution project managment and awards, for reaching well defined goals, the benefit would be a lot greater than a bunch of people now driving new cars that get marginally better mileage than the ones they traded in.

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geoguy73

November 18, 2009

Could someone provide an itemized list of the proposed jobs created through this legislation? Don't forget these are the same politicians that squandered our tax dollars bailing out the car industry, Wall street bankers, Fannie and Freddie, FDIC, Cash for Clunkers, etc. We didn't loose our manufacturing position over the last decade due to "lack of interest" on the part of the American people, we lost it because we couldn't compete in the world marketplace. (Or should I say we choose not to....with our consumptive and entitlement lifestyle?)

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