-August 18, 2021 at 5:00 AM Pacific Time
In today's Electrek Green Energy Briefing (EGEB):
The Biden administration and the U.S. Department of Energy released a briefing on "Solar Energy Research, Deployment, and Workforce Priorities" yesterday.
According to the preliminary results of the upcoming analysis by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), to achieve the basic decarbonization of the power sector by 2035, the deployment of solar energy by 2030 will need to be three to four times faster than the current rate.
It also pointed out that by 2035, if Congress implements policies conducive to clean energy, such as tax credits for solar farms and manufacturing facilities, solar energy can provide more than 40% of U.S. electricity. Solar energy currently accounts for 3% of U.S. electricity.
In addition, when talking about job opportunities, it pointed out:
The way to achieve a basic decarbonization of the power industry by 2035 can add millions of new jobs through clean energy technology, including the possibility of 500,000-1,500,000 people working in solar energy by 2035.
“Solar projects are currently eligible for a 26% tax credit, which is being phased out. Biden has promoted a 10-year extension and new incentives for the manufacture of solar modules,” Reuters pointed out.
The Solar Energy Industry Association sent Electrek a statement from its President and CEO Abigail Ross Hopper:
The Biden administration’s report on solar energy today shows that if policies are in place, solar energy will help combat the climate crisis, build a strong US manufacturing industry, and create hundreds of thousands of jobs. The problem brief clearly shows the tremendous growth of solar energy in the past decade, and points out the direction for solar energy to increase market share and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The report also clearly pointed out that to achieve the Biden government’s zero-emission grid goal, billions of dollars of investment and market opportunities will be required by 2050, covering all clean energy generation, including energy storage, power transmission, operation and maintenance, and As a community solar energy and solar energy for low- and middle-income communities.
President Biden also plans to expand solar investment tax credits, build American manufacturing, accelerate power transmission and storage expansion, and establish goals for diversity, fairness, tolerance, and justice in the transition to a clean energy economy. Good trade policies are also crucial to the president’s climate goals.
First Solar, headquartered in Tempe, Arizona, broke ground on its third factory in Ohio yesterday. US Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh attended the ceremony.
A new 3.3 gigawatt (GW), 1.8 million square foot, $680 million plant in Wood County, south of Toledo, is expected to open in the first half of 2023, close to First Solar's two existing plants. The company claims that the total annual production capacity of the third plant will be increased to 6 GW, making it the largest fully vertically integrated solar manufacturing complex outside of China.
The new factory is expected to create more than 700 permanent jobs and 500 construction jobs for union workers in the next 18 months. Walsh said:
The facility not only promotes innovative manufacturing for a sustainable future, but First Solar also invests in its workers through skills training, competitive salaries and generous benefits. Empowering all American workers is our way to rebuild a better economy and win the future.
First Solar is the only company headquartered in the United States among the world's top 10 solar manufacturers. It is not made in China, but uses a fully integrated continuous process under one roof. The company stated that its “ecologically efficient module technology using its proprietary CadTel semiconductor has the lowest carbon and water footprint of any photovoltaic module available today.”
Read more: Toledo, Ohio links solar farms to community reinvestment
Photo: Solar FlexRack in Utah
FTC: We use car affiliate links that earn revenue. more.
Subscribe to Electrek on YouTube to get exclusive videos and subscribe to podcasts.
Electrek Green Energy Briefing: Daily technical, financial and political commentary/analysis of important green energy news
Michelle Lewis is the writer and editor of Electrek and the editor of DroneDJ, 9to5Mac and 9to5Google. She lives in St. Petersburg, Florida. She previously worked in companies such as "Fast Company", "Guardian", "Depth News", and "Time". Leave a message for Michelle on Twitter or via michelle@9to5mac.com. Check out her personal blog.
Tesla officially moved its headquarters to the Texas Gigafactory
Porsche Taycan GTS sedan first drive
Tesla updated Cybertruck: 4 motors, 4 wheel steering
Chevrolet Bolt production will resume at the end of January
You must be logged in to leave a comment.