Making America a 21st Century Solar Power

Dow Corning has identified four fundamental policy goals for making America a 21st century solar power. Focusing on these four areas, Dow Corning is confident that our nation can expand its energy capacity, create jobs and economic growth, and move toward energy independence from foreign oil.

Legislation
The strength of America's manufacturing sector can be renewed through the development of new energy technologies. But if the nation is to lead the global market, federal tax policies that support investment, innovation and energy independence are needed.

Energy  legislation should  be based on a broad federal legislative and regulatory package, designed to encourage the rapid growth of a viable renewable energy industry and encourage consumer adoption.

• Permanent Advanced Manufacturing Tax Credit
• Renewable Electricity Standards
• Federal Interconnection and Net Metering Standards
• Renewable Energy Payments (Feed-in Tariffs)
  

Research and Development
We are a nation of innovators, overcoming every challenge put before us. Creating a new, greener economy is among the biggest challenges our country faces in this century. To do so, America needs meaningful new federal investment in solar energy research and development to help us compete as a global solar power while helping the planet.

Federal legislation should:

• Encourage the expansion of public-private partnerships to further develop industry standards and,
• Incentivize the accelerated development of solar technologies and manufacturing, including significant funding increases for applied research and development in the solar industry.

Education and Training
With the right training and education, America’s workers will help lead the way in creating a domestic solar energy industry that is the envy of the world.

To ensure the long-term sustainability of an economically vibrant renewable energy sector, the U.S. needs qualified professionals to fill the renewable energy jobs of the future. At present, there are too few solar training opportunities available in the country to rapidly develop the tens of thousands of skilled workers needed to support the growing solar industry.

To achieve President Obama's goal of creating five million green collar jobs, Congress should expand its support for development of educational programs and workplace training opportunities that enable U.S. workers to obtain new skills for the jobs of the future.

Government Leadership
Americans want a real commitment to modern energy policies - and they are looking to the Federal Government to take the lead.

Dow Corning calls on Congress to support the development of a domestic solar industry that will be the envy of the world. America needs meaningful new federal investment in solar energy research and development. It will help us compete as a global solar power – and do a little good for our planet, too.

Learn more:
Making America a 21st Century Solar Power White Paper (PDF size = 997 KB)