QUICK NEWS, 6-14: GLOBAL WIND DAY IS JUNE 15; SOLARDAY JUNE 19 HAILED BY CONGRESS; 250,000 EU WIND JOBS IN 2020; THIN FILM PLANT TO DOUBLE OUTPUT

GLOBAL WIND DAY IS JUNE 15
U.S. Wind Industry Gears Up for Global Wind Day
Carl Levesque, June 11, 2010 (Wind Energy Weekly)

"Next week the world will be celebrating wind power, and the U.S. wind industry is taking part…Companies and organizations across the industry will be celebrating Global Wind Day on Tuesday June 15…

"…Manufacturer Cardinal Fastener will host a roundtable at its headquarters in Bedford Heights, Ohio, featuring nationally and locally recognized wind and clean energy leaders, who will highlight the jobs and other benefits that clean energy policies could bring to Ohio and the nation… [RSVP at Repower America]…"

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"…Five Wyoming counties have proclaimed June 15, 2010, as “Wyoming Wind Day” to recognize wind power’s tremendous potential in the state and its benefits for local communities...

"…Boston-based Second Wind will celebrate Global Wind Day by sponsoring its second annual “Chirps to Tweets” Tweet-Up for environmentally conscious Twitter followers… at the Blue Shirt Café in Davis Square, Somerville, Mass…To attend the Tweet-Up or for more information, please e-mail [naomi.pierce@secondwind.com] Naomi Pierce…"

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"…[The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA)] is holding a Twitter background photo contest…[by] asking AWEA fans to submit wind photos to wallpaper@awea.org for a chance to win a month as AWEA Twitter “wallpaper” (i.e., background). Photo entries will be accepted through June 13; please include the name and location of the wind farm and photo credit. The winner will be announced via Facebook and Twitter on Global Wind Day…

"…To celebrate Global Wind Day by helping to make America cleaner, stronger, and more secure, go to [Power of Wind]…"


SOLARDAY JUNE 19 HAILED BY CONGRESS
US House of Representatives Recognizes SolarDay
June 12, 2010 (SolarDay 2010)

"…US House Representative Doris Matsui [of California] has officially expressed her support for SolarDay 2010 [on June 19]:"

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"Dear SolarDay 2010,

"…Celebrations such as SolarDay represent the ever growing need for clean and sustainable energy that reduces America's dependance on foreign oil…The second annual SolarDay will spread awareness and education about the incredible capabilities of solar power. Harvesting the sun's energy can create jobs and make our nation energy independent. The Solar Energy Industries Association in fact predicts that over 60,000 jobs will be created in the solar industry by the end of this year…

"…With dozens of events being held throughout the country on June 19th, members of the public will have the opportunity to understand how solar power can assist in…more sustainable lifestyles…Thank you for your continued wok in moving our country away from fossil fuels and toward a sustainable future…"


QUARTER MILLION EU WIND JOBS IN 2020
Wind energy industry foresees 250,000 new jobs in Europe by 2020
June 11, 2010 (European Wind Energy Association)

"The European Wind Energy Association (EWEA)…expects the European wind energy sector to create over 250,000 new jobs in Europe in the next decade.

"The belief that the European wind energy industry can make a serious contribution to green growth [is] backed by politicians of the left and right and trade unionists…"

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"By the end of 2009, the wind energy sector employed 192,000 people in Europe. In addition, European companies employ tens of thousands of people outside of Europe."

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"Three key areas - offshore wind, electricity grids, and the training and education of more engineers and technical staff - were identified as critical to creating those new jobs…

"The coming years will see the development of a new offshore wind industry. Existing and planned European offshore wind projects would, if implemented, supply 10% of Europe's electricity. Employment in offshore is expected to exceed onshore by 2025, and by 2030, over 60% of the total employment in wind energy is expected to be in offshore wind energy."


THIN FILM PLANT TO DOUBLE OUTPUT
First Solar Announces Intent To Expand German Manufacturing Plant; Move Would Double Capacity and Create Hundreds of Jobs
June 8, 2010 (Business Wire)

"…First Solar, Inc. [will] expand its German manufacturing plant in Frankfurt an der Oder, doubling local production capacity and creating several hundred new jobs.

"The company, which already employs more than 600 associates in Frankfurt (Oder) manufacturing First Solar's trademark thin-film solar modules, is in advanced talks with the German regional and federal authorities to obtain the necessary regulatory permits and financial framework for the expansion."

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"The expansion would be the first major foreign direct investment in the German green technology sector this year. It would double the annual capacity of the Frankfurt (Oder) manufacturing plant to around 446 megawatts (MW) by the fourth quarter of 2011 from 223 MW today…The expansion also helps the company increase its natural income hedge against euro/dollar exchange rate risk by producing more in Germany for European customer demand.

"The German state of Brandenburg welcomed the announcement by First Solar and described it as an endorsement of its strategy to further expand the production of renewable energy…"

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"First Solar employs more than 4,700 associates worldwide. With an expected annual production capacity in excess of 1.3 gigawatts (GW) in Germany, the United States and Malaysia in 2010, First Solar is one of the world's leading producers of photovoltaic modules. The company has three additional factories in different phases of construction in France and Malaysia. When the announced factories are fully completed in Q1 2012, the company will have more than 2.1 GW of capacity, based on the annualized run rate for the first quarter of 2010.

"The Frankfurt (Oder) factory…site includes a recycling facility as part of First Solar's commitment to resource efficiency and sustainability…"