TO GROW SOLAR MAKERS

How To Grow The U.S.' Solar Manufacturing Base (Without Involving China)
Jessica Lillian, 27 March 2012 (Solar Industry)

"…Proponents of corrective trade action draw a link between U.S. solar manufacturers' recent struggles and China's dominance…[The U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC)] recently issued a preliminary ruling that imposes tariffs on Chinese modules, clamping down on Chinese imports…[but that] may not be the key to growing the U.S.' own solar manufacturing market…

"…In [Manufacturing Solar Photovoltaic Products in the United States from SEMI and the PV Group] a series of other, non-China-related strategies [are recommended] that the U.S. government [could] adopt in order to help PV manufacturers compete globally…Failing to enact these policies and create a larger U.S. PV manufacturing base could represent a major missed opportunity…"

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"Manufacturing jobs have a higher multiplier effect on the economy than any other type of job…[but] despite the U.S.' leading position in early-stage PV innovation and venture capital, the country's presence trails off once companies reach the commercial-scale manufacturing stage…[F]ederal- and state-level policies…[could] support the U.S.' clean-energy manufacturing base, as well as spur domestic product demand that would, in turn, stimulate in-market manufacturing…

"On the federal level, specific policies…[include a] national renewable energy standard…the vital investment tax credit…[the] Section 1603 cash-grant program…funding for the U.S. Department of Energy's solar research and development (R&D) programs…a permanent tax credit for private R&D…[and] a new financing entity called the Green Bank…"