Merkley, Wyden: More than $87 Million in Clean Energy Investments Heading to Oregon

Washington, DC – Oregon’s Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden cheered today’s announcement that tens of millions in Advanced Energy Manufacturing Tax Credits are heading to Oregon for clean energy manufacturing projects as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

“This landmark investment creates jobs all across Oregon and continues our state’s pioneering role as the U.S. capital for solar technology manufacturing,” Merkley said.  “These investments in American manufacturing are creating family wage jobs not just today, but for generations of Oregon workers.”

“This funding will allow Oregon companies on the cutting edge of the renewable energy industry to expand – creating jobs, improving America’s domestic manufacturing sector while increasing Oregon’s ability to be a clean tech leader,” Wyden said. “These companies are manufacturing the future of solar technology and this funding will boost Oregon’s economy by building a new American industry.”

SolarWorld Industries America Inc. in Hillsboro will use their $82 million tax credit to expand the existing 100-megawatt solar photovoltaic manufacturing plant to 500 megawatts.

Centrosolar Oregon LLC in Gresham plans to use its $4.7 million tax credit to build a manufacturing plant for photovoltaic solar modules.

Pacific Metal Fab, LLC in Eugene will use its $300,000 tax credit to re-equip and expand its manufacturing facility to produce components for solar water heaters, specifically tanks, plumbing modules, and the frames that hold them.
 
The three Oregon projects are part of $2.3 billion in tax credits for clean energy manufacturing projects across the United States, announced today by the U.S. Department of Energy.   One hundred eighty three projects in 43 states will create tens of thousands of high quality clean energy jobs and the domestic manufacturing of advanced clean energy technologies including solar, wind and efficiency and energy management technologies.  The funds were made available by last year’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.