Jan 24 2011
The Defense Authorization Act signed by President Obama into law for the financial year 2011 will bring in more cheers to solar photovoltaic producers and solar technology companies of the USA.
The act includes a stipulation that encourages self-reliance of the country and that of its special trading partner countries. The proviso of the act expects the Department of Defense to buy solar power technology products of US origin to lessen their reliance on overseas energy technology and fuels.
SolarWorld, a U.S.-based producer of crystalline silicon solar panels, which advocated for such a move of reaching self-sufficiency by utilizing location production and technology to promote clean technology, has welcomed the announcement. The company has started its solar panel production in 1977 and currently manufactures around 500 MW of solar panels from its 100 acre production facility in Hillsboro, Ore. The U.S. Government sustained the efforts of the company in creating more job opportunities at its Hillsboro plant and sanctioned $82.2 million for its expansion plans from the renewable-energy manufacturing tax credits. Earlier, the company has supplied 1.2 MW panels for the Buckley Air Force Base in Colorado in 2009 and currently, supplies 2.5 MW panels for installation in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
Bob Beisner, SolarWorld America’s managing director, said that encouraging of domestic production will enable the country to depend on its own production to achieve renewable energy power generation. He added that the new act will encourage the use of technology developed in the United States and its trading partner countries to commence the production and will increase local job opportunities and technology of their own citizens.