Solar Policy

On June 23 & 24, Dow Corning led a delegation of leading representatives from the solar energy value chain to Washington, D.C. to call for new federal policies that would stimulate the growth of the nation’s domestic solar energy industry, grow the U.S. economy, create jobs, and help meet greenhouse gas emissions goals.

Dow Corning’s CEO Stephanie Burns and representatives from Abengoa Solar, Applied Materials, BP Solar, Kyocera, National Semiconductor Corp., Sanyo, SCHOTT Solar, Solar Power Industries, SolarWorld and Suniva, Inc. began the two day event by meeting with key members of President Barack Obama's administration to discuss the scaling up of renewable energy in the country, and how America can attain global leadership of the solar industry.

The group then joined over 65 executives from some of the country’s leading renewable energy think tanks, trade associations, non-governmental organizations and non-profits at the Hay Adams Hotel, a Washington, D.C. landmark located across from the White House for a reception and dinner hosted by Dow Corning. The evening celebrated the solar industry and the impact it will have on supplying energy for America’s future.

Wednesday morning media representatives were invited to a roundtable discussion at the National Press Club. Dow Corning introduced its policy recommendations for making America a 21^st century solar power and support a new renewable energy manufacturing sector in America. The plan calls on Congress and the Obama Administration to:

• Enact a broad federal legislative and regulatory package, designed to encourage the rapid growth of a viable renewable energy industry and encourage consumer adoption;
• Increase investments in research and development to support innovation in solar energy technologies;
• Increase renewable energy-related education, training and job creation; and,
• Establish the federal government as a leader in the utilization of clean energy technologies.

During the roundtable, Stephanie Burns stated, “Solar energy is a clean, efficient and readily available technology that with the right support could help transform America’s energy, environmental and economic future.”

Reporters from Fortune, Bloomberg, The Los Angeles Times, Midland Daily News, Platts Inside Energy, ClimateWire and over ten others joined the event. Resulting coverage includes:

ICIS News: Dow Corning Urges New U.S. Policies to Promote Solar Power

The Bay City Times: Dow Corning in D.C. Today to Push for Pro-solar Policies

After the roundtable, the delegation met with members of congress to discuss Dow Corning’s policy recommendations and what it will take for America to regain its status as a global solar leader. Meetings were held with Rep. Ed Markey (D-MA); Rep. Jay Inslee (D-WA); Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA); Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA); Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA); Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV); and Sen. Jeff Bingaman’s (D-NM) chief of staff. During the meetings, the group expressed the need and urgency of implementing an effective, comprehensive set of renewable energy policies that will spur growth throughout the industry.

“To make America a 21^st century solar power, we need smart and effective government policies from Congress that will help the private sector grow, thrive and create thousands of new jobs,” Burns said in the briefings. “Congress needs to go beyond the incentives for alternative energies included in the recent economic stimulus package.”

In the past five years, Dow Corning and its joint ventures at the Hemlock Semiconductor Group have announced investments of more than $5 billion to research and develop as well as to expand production of materials critical to the solar industry. Dow Corning’s silicon-based materials are used in solar cell manufacturing, solar module assembly and installation.

About Dow Corning

Dow Corning provides performance-enhancing solutions to serve the diverse needs of more than 25,000 customers worldwide. A global leader in silicones, silicon-based technology and innovation, Dow Corning offers more than 7,000 products and services via the company’s Dow Corning® and XIAMETER® brands. Dow Corning is a joint venture equally owned by The Dow Chemical Company and Corning, Incorporated. More than half of Dow Corning’s annual sales are outside the United States.

For further information, please direct inquiries to one of our media representatives.

 

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