Weekly Clean Energy Roundup: January 13, 2010

$2.3 Billion for Clean Energy Manufacturing

President Obama announced on January 8 the award of $2.3 billion in Advanced Energy Manufacturing Tax Credits for clean energy jobs and manufacturing projects across the U.S.

Funding for the tax credits, which comes from the Recovery Act, will go to 183 energy enterprises in 43 states involved in manufacturing components and systems relating to solar, wind, and geothermal energy equipment; fuel cells, microturbines, and batteries; electric cars; electric grids to support renewable energy; energy conservation technologies; and carbon sequestration equipment. Companies will produce next-generation wind turbine blades, smart meters, and double-reflective glass for solar panels, among others.

For example, to boost the smart grid, Itron, Inc. is making one of the first residential smart meters that provides built-in, two-way communications and a remote on/off switch, giving customers more choice while enabling utilities to provide higher reliability at lower cost.

The investment tax credits, worth up to 30% of the cost of each planned manufacturing project, will leverage private capital for a total investment of nearly $7.7 billion in U.S. high-tech manufacturing. President Obama says the awards will "help close the clean energy gap" between the U.S. and other countries, while creating jobs and reducing carbon emissions.

The projects were competitively selected through a merit review process -  the companies chosen say they will create over 17,000 jobs. While projects selected for this tax credit generally must be placed in service by 2014, about a third will be completed in 2010.

Manufacturers of solar PV modules and components garnered about 40% of the tax credits, including more than $400 million for materials and component manufacturers such as AE Polysilicon Corp.; Dow Corning; DuPont; Hemlock Semiconductor Corp.; PPG Industries, Inc.; REC Silicon; Solaicx; and Wacker Polysilicon North America LLC, plus more than $500 million for both established and up-and-coming solar cell and module manufacturers like Abound Solar, Inc.; Amonix, Inc.; BP Solar International, Inc.; First Solar, Inc.; Konarka; Miasole; Nanosolar; Schott Solar, Inc.; Sharp Electronics Corp.; Spire Semiconductor, LLC; Stion Corporation; Suniva, Inc.; SunPower Corporation; Suntech; United Solar Ovonic, LLC; and Xunlight Corporation. See the DOE press release, the tax credit fact sheet, and the full list of projects (Excel 115 KB).

DOE to Award $187 Million to Improve Car, Truck Fuel Efficiency

DOE announced on January 11 that it will award $187 million, including $100 million in ARRA funds, to 9 projects to improve fuel efficiency for heavy-duty trucks and passenger vehicles.

With a private cost share of 50%, the funding will support nearly $375 million in research, development, and demonstration projects across the country. Currently, the transportation sector accounts for 28% of total U.S. energy use; by 2030, the new technologies could save over 100 million gallons of gasoline and diesel fuel a day, reducing carbon emissions from on-road vehicles by 20%.