Green energy has been a big platform for 2012 Obama campaign, however he has recently come under severe criticism for the way he’s executed his green energy initiatives. The bankruptcies of companies like Solyndra have caused people to question the current viability of solar panel manufacturing. Here’s an opinion piece from Forbes written by executives at Urban Green Energy on why green energy is failing in the US and how we should be utilizing China to create more domestic jobs:
In mid-May, the U.S. Department of Commerce sent a clear message to the American renewable energy community: We don’t support you.
By levying tariffs ranging from 30-250% on all solar panels imported from China, the ruling will constrict the growth of renewable energy here in America, driving up the prices for installers, their customers, and, ultimately, the American taxpayer. This legislation threatens to kill the very blue-collar jobs it claims to save.
The irony is that becoming the world’s leading solar manufacturer is not a role the U.S. should seek to fill. In fact, it is widely accepted that First Solar, an American photovoltaic module producer, enjoys the lowest manufacturing costs in its industry.The market that SolarWorld and Solyndra were fighting for is one of razor-thin margins, increasing automation, and commoditization. In other words, it’s not where we can make a difference.
On the other hand, companies like SolarCity, Sungevity, and Urban Green Energy are focusing on the actual implementation of solar and renewable energy technologies, rather than just the production of panels. In doing so, we are growing extremely fast, creating thousands of American jobs. These jobs, far outnumbering what would be created in manufacturing, cannot be outsourced. Furthermore, our companies scale globally, bringing proven business models overseas and increasing the presence of American companies as leaders in the worldwide renewable energy industry.
