Green jobs really on the way? New U.S. solar plants announced this week

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Environment
Global environmental challenges

December 18th, 2008
Green jobs really on the way? New U.S. solar plants announced this
week

Posted by: Nichola Groom
Tags: Environment, green jobs, manufacturing, Obama, solar energy

Are those green jobs Obama has been promising already on their way?
Really?

Despite a weak global economy and all the gloom that has brought to
the solar industry of late, two solar companies this week quietly
bucked the trend by announcing new manufacturing plants here in the
United States.

On Monday, Hemlock Semiconductor said it would invest up to $3 billion
to expand U.S. production of polysilicon, the key raw material used to
make solar cells and semiconductors. That will include $1.2 billion
to build a new facility in Clarksville, Tennesee, and up to $1 billion
to expand its current operations in Hemlock, Michigan. The company
said the investment will create 800 permanent positions at the plants
(and a few hundred more once Clarksville is expanded) and 1,800
construction jobs.

A day later, Signet Solar said it will build a solar panel
manufacturing plant in Belen, New Mexico. The first phase of the plant
will create 200 jobs, though ultimately it will employ about 600
people, the Menlo Park, California-based company said.

These announcements stand in stark contrast to the slew of dour news
that has emanated from the industry in recent weeks. Just yesterday,
Hemlock rival MEMC became the latest solar player to cut its sales
forecast for the current quarter.

Hemlock acknowledged the dismal state of the economy in its statement,
saying “the exact scale of this investment will be determined by
market conditions.”

It’s too soon, of course, to know how those “conditions” will play
out, and things look pretty grim at the moment. But with Barack
Obama’s inauguration around the corner, there is palpable optimism
that more alternative energy companies will be setting up shop here.

How do you think this will play out? Are “green jobs” for real?



Nichola, I liked your article and also agree to what you say… if we
intensively research on the topic of Green Jobs then we will find the
positive statistics of Green Jobs, the data cannot be incorrect for so
many years… Green Jobs are “By the society, For the society”… its an
give and take relation between us and society and environment… if you
would like to discuss and learn more on the topics of Green Jobs,
Corporate Social Responsibility, Development, Energy and the
Environment, Ethical Consumption, Politics and Governance, Social
Investment, Social Media and Sustainable Business, then please do
visit JustMeans site… Recently I have come across this site; it is the
only one of such site which brings all companies and individuals
together on one platform to discuss on the above topics. JustMeans is
very well designed, informative, refreshing and the most important
easy to use, the best usability. Many of us interested in this sector
do exchange our thoughts here and also I would like you to see on
JustMeans very soon.
- Posted by Sandy Chan
December 19th, 2008
9:20 pm GMT


[...] In science news, scientists discover that Mars has mineral
evidence of a past water environment; http://www.reuters.com/article/scienceNe
ws/idUSTRE4BH7IV20081218 and could Mr. Obama’s Green Agenda be already
starting?; http://blogs.reuters.com/environment/200 8/12/18/green-jobs-
really-on-the-way-new -us-solar-plants-ann…. [...]
- Posted by Week of December 21st, 2008 « Dad2059’s Webzine of Science
Fiction, Science Fact and Esoterica
December 20th, 2008
7:40 am GMT


We’re not close to “being green” in regards to energy consumption, but
the economical impact from investing and developing emerging
technologies will be substantial in the next several decades.
- Posted by Mack Michaels
December 22nd, 2008
6:48 pm GMT


Free market impetus isn’t enough. Our government should direct
substantial resources to create demand and expand solar production as
well as for other green technologies. The current economic crisis is
stifling a good chunk of private investment interest. It is rather
unlikely private investment will sustain a robust shift to green
energy solutions at this juncture.
- Posted by Anubis
December 23rd, 2008
9:32 pm GMT


Obama’s recovery plan provides the U.S. with a once-in-a-lifetime
opportunity to shape the country’s infrastructure and our government
must learn from the mistakes of the past and not sacrifice standards
of sustainability in order to speed these projects to market.

Check out more on thoughts on Obama’s plans from the American
Institute of Architects on our YouTube channel here -
http://www.youtube.com/user/AIANational
- Posted by Rob Longert on behalf of the American Institute of
Architects