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State of Oregon, USA
Description
Much of the interest in the state is drawn from Oregon's business energy tax credit, which covers up to 50 percent of the cost of a project. Oregon has other competitive advantages, such as low-cost hydropower; the state's proximity to California, now the country's biggest market for photovoltaics; and a semiconductor manufacturing work force that can easily transition into solar cell manufacturing. The state's incentives have earned plaudits from companies and investors.
Oregon is going to be one of, if not the, key manufacturing location in the United States for solar with an increasing number of key industry manufacturers looking for locations in Oregon.
Those include Aliso Viejo, Calif.-based XsunX Inc., a pre-revenue public company that designs solar cells and manufacturing systems.
Recent investments within the Oregon area include:
- XsunX building a 150,000 manufacturing plant in the area with financing of up to $21million.
- German company Solarworld AG announcing in March that it will spend nearly $400 million to build what could be the U.S' largest solar manufacturing facility in Hillsboro.
- Solaicx, hiring 40 local employees at their new Portland plant which could eventually employ 200.
Innovative Aspect
Oregon is already fifth nationally in installations, with about 400 of the US’ 8,500 annual solar panel installations. Several factors contribute to Oregon getting a big chunk of the $1 billion U.S. solar industry. Solaicx chose Portland three years ago over Austin, Texas, and Phoenix, Ariz.
Benefits
The state's skilled work force is the biggest factor in the exponential growth in PV business in Orgeon. In addition the state's low cost of business and abundant hydropower means cheap, reliable electricity, a must for high-energy consuming operations like solar manufacturing. Furthermore there have been increased tax credits for solar manufacturers which have also served to entice the solar industry – with the Legislature increasing tax credits for renewable energy manufacturers to 50 percent of the construction cost of a new facility (The credit is capped at $10 million and can be taken over five years.)
