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Camarillo, Calif. (Feb. 18, 2010) – California State Senator Tony Strickland returned to the California roots of the U.S. solar industry to cite the SolarWorld group as a state manufacturing mainstay that he envisions leading a state resurgence in green-technology jobs and energy self-reliance.
Speaking after a visit to SolarWorld’s 30-year-old solar power technology plant in Camarillo this month, the Republican from Simi Valley highlighted his co-authored bill (SBX8 22) to stimulate employment at green-technology companies by exempting their equipment products from sales tax.
“I believe the renewable energy industry can play a major role in returning California to economic prosperity,” the senator said. “I look forward to providing businesses like SolarWorld with the tools they need to create jobs and grow our economy.”
SolarWorld is the largest and most experienced U.S. manufacturer of solar technology. Its Camarillo site, which the company has fully modernized and automated in recent years, has manufactured solar modules since 1979. SolarWorld also manufactures in Hillsboro, Ore., and Vancouver, Wash.
After Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger advanced the concept of a sales tax exemption, Senator Strickland jointly authored SBX8 22 with Senator Alex Padilla, a Democrat from the San Fernando Valley. Renewable energy and job creation are central themes of Senator Strickland’s vision for returning California to prosperity. He represents California Senate District 19, which includes portions of Los Angeles, Venture and Santa Barbara counties.
About the SolarWorld group: The SolarWorld group of companies (ISIN: DE0005108401) is a world leader in high quality solar power technology. The company is involved at all levels of the solar value chain and combines all activities of the solar industry, from silicon raw material to turn-key solar systems. SolarWorld is represented in all of the world’s solar growth markets. The group is exclusively dedicated to its core business of photovoltaic power generation, operating production facilities in Germany and the USA (California, Oregon, Washington). They, in turn, supply the SolarWorld sales offices in Germany, Spain, USA, South Africa and Singapore. In South Korea, SolarWorld is establishing a solar module production facility to serve the growing demand in Asia.
The central element of the business, in addition to the sale of turn-key solar systems and solar modules, is the distribution of solar silicon wafers to the international solar cell industry. Apart from grid-coupled (on-grid) products the SolarWorld group sells off-grid solar power solutions that make an important contribution to the sustainable economic development of threshold and developing countries. Under the name Solar2World, the group has applied its ethical commitment to solar power in developing countries.
The SolarWorld group employs about 2,500 people worldwide. At the stock market the company is listed among others in the technology index TecDAX, in the ÖkoDAX, in the Dow Jones STOXX 600, in the international MSCI index as well as in the sustainability indices DAXglobal Alternative Energy and NAI.
www.solarworld-usa.com
Media Contact:
Ben Santarris
SolarWorld group
Public Relations
25300 N.W. Evergreen Road
Hillsboro, OR 97124
Mobile: +1 503 927 9858
Office: +1 503 693 5189
ben.santarris(at)solarworld-usa.com
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