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Chinese Solar Company Plans U.S. Manufacturing Plant
China-based solar producer Suntech Power announced plans this week to build a manufacturing facility in the United States to serve the growing U.S. market for large-scale utility projects and to take advantage of government incentives.
“We believe in the outstanding long-term prospects of the solar energy market in the United States” Suntech Chairman and CEO Zhengrong Shi said.
The Suntech announcement reflects the value of federal and state incentives for renewable energy. It also counters a favorite argument of climate action opponents on Capitol Hill that shifting the United States to a clean energy future will send U.S. jobs overseas.
Suntech, the world’s largest solar energy company in terms of photovoltaic module production, said it could cut transport costs and emissions by building closer to its market. The cost of shipping heavy renewable units, combined with the fact that the U.S. and EU currently constitute the majority of clean tech demand, makes local manufacturing facilities a sensible strategy for long-term growth.
Political considerations were also not lost on the company. Appealing to both green jobs enthusiasts and those who perceive China as taking manufacturing jobs from the U.S, Shi said he is hopeful that “initiating manufacturing in the U.S. will drive further growth of green jobs.”
Suntech America President Roger Efird said as many as 1,000 jobs could be created through Suntech’s U.S. operations over the next few years. The company plans to settle on a location in the next six months.
“We are currently in discussion with the governors of three different states who have been recruiting us to build factories,” Efird has said.
In making the announcement this week, the company specifically identified that its decision would be based on “local manufacturing incentives” and “long-term policy commitments.”
National-level renewable electricity legislation is currently being considered in Congress, and 28 states have their own renewable portfolio standards in place that require utilities to generate a certain percentage of electricity from renewable sources.
In addition, the stimulus bill signed earlier this year provides federal level loan guarantees, grants, and a 30% renewable-investment tax credit to expand the development of renewables, plus state level incentive programs are being formulated to include more extensive measures – including tax holidays, loans and grants – aimed at attracting top companies. Some states, like California and Colorado, have committed to solar-specific subsidies for PV manufacturers.
Texas is considering solar financing legislation that would allocate $500 million for solar incentives. While residential and commercial users would be able to take advantage of rebates – in some cases more generous than those being offered under the California Solar Initiative – 70% of the dedicated funding would be earmarked for utility-scale applications. Franchise tax exemption for manufacturers, sellers, or installers of solar energy devices would put Texas-based companies capable of utility-scale applications at a distinct advantage.
Suntech is one of three major PV manufacturers worldwide that can handle utility-scale applications.
In addition to homing in on increasing state-level solar incentives, Suntech may also be reacting to Chinese government initiatives and guidance.
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Comments
As I have come to find out,
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on August 30, 2009 - 1:12am.
As I have come to find out, our current leaders seem to be even more scandalous that I had imagined previously. I mean: "Naaaahh... crooked government officials??? In Oregon??" Boy, was I wrong... I'm hoping there may be something you may do to help me out here with this matter, as the red tape has covered my voice beyond recognition. Who's going to listen to a college student afterall... I hope you will.
As of late June, a new Chinese startup company by the name of Centron Solar has opened their headquarters right here in Eugene, Oregon. It certainly doesn't look very Chinese at first look on their website: www.centronsolar.com, and Centron is registered as a Foreign Business Corporation with jurisdiction Delaware: http://egov.sos.state.or.us/br/pkg_web_name_srch_inq.show_detl?p_be_rsn=...
Seems odd that a company who settled with an unpaid intern who was used for free labor, registers their company 2 days after they ask the intern to not show up any more due to limited space (that intern was me.):
http://www.registerguard.com/csp/cms/sites/web/business/18590037-41/stor...
Here are some of the first News articles that burst out on the scene in Oregon revolving Centron:
http://www.centronsolar.com/index.php?action=aboutus.news_events
How does a foreign business corporation "start-up" with that much influence in media? Have a look at Centron Solars
Centron Solar import solar panels from lesser known solar panel manufacturers in China ( www.nesl.cn and www.jetion.com.cn ) Then, they have conspired to brand these solar panels with their logo and model numbers.
For instance, have a look at Centron Solar's product sheet http://centronsolar.com/index.php?action=products.prod_overview
Centron's models:
CS-S-175-DJ
CS-S-189-DJ
These two models are actually from Chanzhou NESL Solartech in China, and their rightful model numbers are:
Changzhou NESL Solartech DJ-175D
Changzhou NESL Solartech DJ-180D
http://nesl.cn/Product.asp?Action=View&ProductID=71&Catalog=0
Both these models are listed on the California Energy Commissions "Eligible for Subsidies," which also applies in Oregon and the Northwest in general: http://www.gosolarcalifornia.org/equipment/pvmodule.html, but Centron's model numbers are nowhere to be found on that list, yet they are selling them on the U.S market under their "consortium," which in reality is NESL and Jetion.
Centron's 220W model which is actually purchased from the Chinese solar manufacturer Jiangyin Jetion Science and Technology :
CS-P-220-JT
Jetion Model number:
JT220(30)P1655×992
*Notice that Centron Solar has kept the "DJ" from NESL and "JT" from Jetion.
For whatever reason, Centron Solar are able to sell their panels with their model numbers to both Nike in Beaverton, and the Oregon National Guard in Portland, and still they are eligible for subsidies? Or are they?
According to both EWEB (Eugene's utility company) and AEE Solar (Nations larges solar panel distributor;) Because Centron Solar's models are not listed on the "eligible for subsidies" list, they cannot sell their panels on our subsidized market. However, Centron Solar has managed to sneak their model numbers onto PV Powered (solar power inverter systems headquartered in Bend, OR) string sizing: http://pvpowered.com/usage_terms_string_sizer.php (Look for Centron Solar in drop down box.) There is no trace that Centron Solar is merely distributing modules which have already been approved on the "eligibility" list, not as Centron Solar. Remember, Centron is a "consortium of 30 manufacturers."
Centron Solar claims that they are a consortium representing 30 manufacturers in China who have come together to create Centron's product line. This is how Centron Solar launched their product at the Intersolar2009 trade show in SF early July.
Centron solar also claims they can sell their panels 10% cheaper than any competitor on the U.S market, including their Chinese counterparts such as the biggest solar company in China- Suntech. I spoke with a government relations manager for Solarworld USA who said they had done a feasibility report on the production cost of NESL's solar panels. It was impossible- unless the production cost was subsidized by the Chinese government, thus breaking the FTC's Imports Administrations anti-dumping laws.
http://www.eetimes.com/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=219400273 (Proud to announce the "walmartization" of the U.S solar industry administered and operated by Chinese enterprise.)
Both NESL Solartech and Jetion have offices in California, but because no distributor is brave enough to pick up their products- they have designed a way to bypass protectionism and antitrust, through a channel called Centron Solar. This is why they are announching extravagant promises of 350 jobs in Eugene by making the old Hynix building an assembly plant (For the chinese manufacturers NESL/Jetion,) and another 100 jobs in Vancouver, Washington by taking over the old Panasonic building there. Centron Solar claims to warrant their products with 10, 10 and 25 year warranties... this is not Centron Solar that warrants these products, it is the manufacturers in China themselves (look at their websites.) Vancouver, Washington: http://columbian.com/article/20090804/BIZ01/708049969/-1/BIZ
Apparently it is illegal for Centron Solar to carry the UL certification logo, as it is not Centron Solar who has been inspected by UL, it is (again) their manufacturers in China.
This is an absolute atrocity. Our government subsidies and tax payer moneys have become a feeding ground for predatory Foreign Business Corporations like Centron Solar. Centron Solar will send roughly 80-85% profit of their sales straight back into China.From my understanding the stimulus bills in form of renewable energy subsidies are meant to aid recovery of our deficit, stimulate growth in american renewable energy businesses, innovation and creativity. It has been brought to my attention that the people involved in Centron Solar are tied in with government officials who are aiming at profiting from this business. This is an absolute perversion of our constitution and judicial legislature and needs to be stopped immediately. It is imperative that Tobias Read of district 27, also a product line developer for Nike, should be questioned about his intentions with Centron Solar, and purchasing "ineligible for subsidy" solar panels from them? The legal firm representing Centron is Davis Wright Tremaine LLC in Portland, Oregon. Former Washington governor Gary Locke was a noted attorney for this law firm, now he is the U.S Chamber of Commerce Secretary! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Davis_Wright_Tremaine It is imperative that secret affiliation and financial interest in this company is exposed promptly. For those who think Solar, let alone Chinese Solar is just an unprofitable pipe-dream, think again. China's riches man is the founder and CEO of Suntech, a Chinese solar panel outfit which operates in the U.S: http://www.forbes.com/lists/2008/10/billionaires08_Shi-Zhengrong_EP46.html
Also, please have a look at Centron's advisory board: http://centronsolar.com/index.php?action=aboutus.advisory_bd
Greg Evans- Since when did a startup company in the U.S need a political advisor? Let alone the president of the NAACP for Oregon/Washington. The NAACP seem to have an overwhelmingly interest in green development lately, in efforts to destruct our renewable energy sector in order to rebuild it under the realm of "Social Justice." Obama's green jobs advisor, Van Jones, has diligently pushed for this political vision and agenda since appointment as "green jobs Czar/Advisor." Greg Evans is also the Vice President Board member of Lane Transit District, and said this about Centron Solar in the newspapers: "This is very legit, Trust me!" http://www.registerguard.com/csp/cms/sites/web/news/cityregion/16800609-...
David S Thomson- 13 year veteran of the finance group Siebert Bradford Shank & Co. Lives in Seattle, Washington. He was appointed to lead their transportation finance efforts on the west-coast. Perhaps this is how Greg Evans, and David Thomson know eachother? http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?p...
It seems odd that Centron Solar has had such immense political and media support before even earning $1 in sales revenue in both Oregon and Washington lately, and made it through media channels to USA today. Centron Solar, besides Bruce O'Neil and Tobias Read of Nike, are being marketed through Polaris, Inc. http://www.polaris-inc.com/index.php?action=about.NewsInfo&rowid=183.
This should provide you with enough facts about what is going on behind the scenes in the Oregon solar industry, and who is aiming to profit from it. However, it is important to consider those who will be hurt as the result of Centron Solar as well (although apparently, our green energy leaders claim we need to de-industrialize and "re-build" our renewable energy sector, so that kids in the LA, NY, TX, OH etc. ghettos can get jobs first.) By allowing Centron Solar to monopolize with their Wal-mart agenda, it will deflate the entire renewable energy sector in this country, and dumping of Chinese products will cause the prices of solar to go down. The same effect Wal-Mart on our businesses here at home will happen with our Solar businesses here at home. We invented solar technology, we should therefore be able to innovate them- according to Bill Keith who was coined the "renewable energy patriot" by Senator Lugar of Indiana, and Phil Angeledes- former Treasurer of California and Chairman of the Apollo Alliance.
It seems extremely suspect
Submitted by GreenSearch (not verified) on September 1, 2009 - 1:58pm.
It seems extremely suspect to me that you have all of this inside information. Upon further investigation of your "educated claims", I have found that there is fundamentally no truth to your extremely biased statements.
First of all, while Centron uses a variety of manufacturers, each manufacturer does not necessarily make ALL of their modules up to Centron specifications. For example, the panels that NESL sources to Europe are NOT of the same specifications that Centron requires. Essentially, Centron requires each of their manufacturers to create panels specifically FOR Centron that reach their strict specifications.
Additionally, not all manufacturing is done under one roof. Centron requires each of their manufacturers to use the highest quality of products. For example, the silicon used in their modules may come from another manufacturer besides NESL or Jetion. That is partly where the number of consortium members comes from.
In terms of you claims about board members and others involved with this company, all of it is based on speculations with absolutely no grounds. It appears that you are quite paranoid about the whole thing, which seems very odd.
I have seen this identical post in several locations while doing personal research on local solar companies. Much of the information you are spreading appears to be confidential, and the untrue statements you are making could be classified as slander. This, may I add, is a criminal offense.
While having your opinion is one thing, spreading untrue speculations is another. I would suggest being more careful in the future and checking out your facts before spreading it all over the internet.
It's not what it seems...
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on September 8, 2009 - 11:39pm.
Excuse me Ma'am, or Sir.,
It has not, in the least, been my intention to spread untrue facts about someone to degrade the integrity of character, nor that of a business. As I personally believe in the principles of honesty and integrity for myself, I do not find it necessary to be dishonest towards others. Your personal animosity and attacks towards me, however, are dubious and hurtful.
It appears that your "further investigation" has led you nowhere, and this should not be a surprise in that you are not an investigator in this matter, nor am I. However, there are people who are professionally dedicated to this type of investigation, and perhaps we just need to let them do their jobs. If I have reason to say a business is unethical based on the information which has been opened admitted, I am not slandering, nor am I revealing any confidential information. If the confidential information is against the law to begin with, there should be no question why you may be concerned about the facts. They are well documented, and even though this company may have leverage in product manipulation, they will not change.
Again, this is no personal vendetta, any more than it is an attempt to smear the integrity of a company. Although it is my personal belief that prices should come down on solar panels, I think it is unfair to support deflation in sacrifice of becoming a global leader in renewable energy, creating green jobs both in blue and white collar industry, and doing so in an environmentally friendly manner. This is not the case with Chinese solar manufacturers who not only dump their products on our market, but dump toxic wastes into their farmlands and pollute copious amounts of carbon emissions into the atmosphere. Both monetary and environmental economics are degraded in this process. Artificial deflation, unfair advantage, predatory pricing, and huge environmental vs. efficacy costs are incurred in forcing cheaper panels into the industry. Anyone who supports this obviously has an alternate agenda, which does not support the purpose creating a healthier atmosphere economically, nor environmentally. Greed- need I say more? There are hundreds, if not thousands, of entrepreneurs in this country who are about to venture in the green economy. Those are the people I care about, and I will fight for them, as they will fight for me.
I forgive you for your harsh words and accusations. I understand that it is hard to live a lie, let alone support one.
Thanks
Submitted by Rich Mason (not verified) on September 8, 2009 - 3:51am.
Thanks for the info. Well constructed and timely pertinent questions raised here in what is going on with our renewable energy industry. There is a plethora of news articles particularly relating to Suntech's CEO and Founder admitting he is dumping solar panels on the US market. In terms of integrity, it is a constitutional right to bring forth fraud in our system, and suspicion is not exempt. Again, thanks for this informative blog.
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