The Japanese electronics conglomerate Kyocera has announced plans to join the U.S. solar rush and build a 1 gigawatt solar module manufacturing plant in San Diego.
Kyocera’s announcement follows recent plans by Suntech Power Holdings and Yingli Green Energy to build plants in the U.S. sunbelt. Read More »
Uncertainty over Germany’s solar subsidies is causing at least one major investor to pull back from solar stocks, according to Bloomberg.
Gabelli & Co’s SRI Green Fund has cut its holdings and is taking what fund manager John Segrich calls a “defensive view.” Read More »
There looks to be a glorious light at the end of a dark year for solar manufacturers.
Industry researcher DisplaySearch has projected a 38 percent jump in demand for solar next year, to 7,140 megawatts.
Barclays Capital analyst Vishal Shah upped the ante and projected that demand will reach 9,300 megawatts globally in 2010.
The positive projections and news that the EPA had declared carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases a public health danger, sent shares of solar companies including Suntech and SunPower sharply higher. Read More »
We reached out to Suntech Power’s spokeswoman after the announcement that the company plans to build a plant that can produce 30 MW of capacity by late 2010 and learned that the company is, indeed, seeking stimulus funds.
Spokeswoman Sarahjane Sacchetti told us, via email, that the company would seek a 30 percent manufacturing tax credit available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The company, as expected, is also working with the state of Arizona and the Greater Phoenix Economic Council on grants, property tax abatements, permit fee waivers and local tax reductions, Sacchetti writes.
The company will be funding the construction by itself but has not put a price on the project yet, since officials are still considering sites.
As for the timing of the announcement, Sacchetti added, Read More »
Take that Chuck Schumer.
Chinese solar power company Suntech Power Holdings has announced plans to build a plant in the greater Phoenix area that will employ 75 people when it opens.
The plant is lated to come online in the third quarter of 2010 and will have a capacity of 30 MW of PV panels.
The announcement should blunt some of the criticism, notably by Sen. Schumer, D-NY, that China is supplying the American renewable energy market with products made by Chinese workers. Schumer was upset by news that foreign cleantech companies were getting American stimulus funds.
Suntech’s announcement makes no mention of an application for stimulus funds. The company is applying for a 30 percent manufacturing tax credit under the federal stimulus program.
The release does not specify the cost of construction, but BusinessWeek estimates the 80,000 to 100,000 square foot facility will run to the tens of millions of dollars.
Suntech Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Zhengrong Shi said: Read More »
