Jul 1 2009
Applied Materials, Inc. expressed strong support for the U.S. House of Representatives’ passage of the American Climate and Energy Security Act (ACES).
“Like the decision to fund a space program and put a man on the moon in the 60s, this bill could be heralded as a true inflection point: the moment when the U.S. got serious about clean energy. It will certainly be one of the most important bills considered by Congress, given its far reaching impact on the economy and the environment,” said Mike Splinter, chairman and CEO of Applied Materials, the largest solar equipment manufacturer in the world. “The U.S. is stating unequivocally to the world that we want to be leaders when it comes to saving our climate.”
“Speaker Pelosi and Chairmen Henry Waxman and Ed Markey have shown tremendous leadership with their tireless work and leadership to bring this 'Clean Deal' legislation to fruition in the House. They have helped to set the United States on a course of transformation to a low carbon economy, which we believe will create enormous economic opportunity in clean energy, including thousands of jobs, and drive an energy innovation revolution potentially bigger than the information and computing age,” Splinter added.
“While the cap and trade component of this bill is critical, the importance of the national standard for renewable energy generation should not be overlooked. It will take years to fully regulate carbon dioxide. In the meantime, this bill provides financing mechanisms that will increase the use of renewable energy immediately, curbing climate change emissions and spurring significant investment in the green economy now. We are greatly encouraged by the House's vote today and look forward to similar action by the Senate, with a goal to seeing legislation enacted this year.”
Applied Materials is focused on powering future economic growth through solar photovoltaic technology that is viable today. Applied is making solar more affordable and scalable through products used to manufacture wafer-based crystalline silicon solar panels, as well as the company’s revolutionary SunFab™ Thin film line, which produces the largest solar panels in the world. Applied was recently honored with the Wall Street Journal’s 2008 Technology Innovation Award for its SunFab production line. Applied Materials brings 40 years of innovation and manufacturing experience in the semiconductor and flat panel display industries to the energy and environment sector.