Rep. Matsui Introduces Legislation to Bolster Local Clean Tech Industry

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, April 27, 2010

CONTACT: MARA LEE
(202) 225-7163

Today, Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-Sacramento) introduced the Clean Energy Technology Manufacturing and Export Assistance Act of 2010 to boost the competiveness of U.S. clean technology industry in the U.S. and international marketplace. This will have an enormous impact on the Sacramento region, and help further the region's progress toward becoming a clean-tech capital. The bill is co-sponsored by leading Members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, including House Commerce Trade and Consumer Protection Subcommittee Chairman Bobby Rush (D-IL), Chairman Emeritus John D. Dingell (D-MI), and Congresswoman Anna Eshoo (D-CA).

Currently, our nation's clean tech industry is lagging behind many of its international competitors, particularly in exports abroad. According to a recent U.S. Senate Report, the U.S. clean technology industry exported about $7.7 billion in products and services between 2004 and 2008, compared to China's $22.7 billion and Germany's $19.6 billion. Moreover, the Department of Energy has found that the increase in exports of green technology could reach $40 billion per year and could create more than 750,000 jobs by 2020.

The Clean Energy Technology Manufacturing and Export Assistance Act would create a $15 million Clean Energy Technology Manufacturing and Export Assistance Fund to be administered by International Trade Administration within the Department of Commerce to help increase the competitiveness of American-made clean technology industry here in the U.S. and in the international marketplace. The newly-created Fund would support the development, implementation, and sustainability of a National Clean Energy Technology Export Strategy, and serve to assist U.S. Clean Tech firms with export assistance in finding and navigating foreign markets to export their goods and services abroad.

The Matsui legislation would help also strengthen America's domestic clean tech manufacturing industry by requiring the Fund to promote policies that will reduce production costs and encourage innovation, investment, and productivity in the clean energy technology industry at home. In turn, that will help American companies increase their demand and create new, good jobs in communities like Sacramento.

The U.S. must be a leader in manufacturing and exporting clean technologies, not one that becomes dependent on foreign energy products, said Rep. Matsui. This legislation will enhance the U.S. standing in the race to clean energy by coordinating a national strategy to increase the competiveness of the U.S. clean tech industry here in the U.S. and in the international marketplace. Sacramento is poised to become a national leader in clean tech. This legislation will provide much-needed resources to strengthen and grow our local businesses in Sacramento as they expand into the global clean tech marketplace. This legislation sends a strong message to businesses around the world that America is serious about being a leader on producing clean energy.

Right now, the global market for environmental goods and services is estimated at $700 billion, said Chairman Rush. This means that the future of the overall U.S. economy not only depends upon a vibrant domestic market but strong American leadership in the rapidly expanding green economy. At present, only six of the top 30 global companies that lead in this sector are American owned. This must change. This bill will help innovative U.S. companies close this global gap. I m committed to working with my colleague, Rep. Matsui, to do all I can to assure the passage of this legislation.

I am proud to join with my friends, Representatives Matsui and Rush, in introducing this important legislation, the Clean Energy Export Act, said Chairman Emeritus Dingell. It is part and parcel to the President's goal of doubling exports in five years and gives wonderful incentive to American companies to design and manufacture the environmentally friendly technologies of tomorrow. Initiatives such as the one proposed in this bill will help our country gain a competitive edge in the export of the technologies the rest of the world wants and needs.

Clean energy technology will be a critical component of tomorrow's economy, with the potential to create thousands of jobs and provide domestic energy without harming the environment, said Rep. Eshoo. China and European Union nations realize this potential and are investing heavily in this developing industry. We have two choices: invest now, make America #1 in the world, and help our companies succeed, or watch other nations corner the global market. The Clean Energy Technology Manufacturing and Export Assistance Act of 2010 will position our nation to compete and become the world leader in this increasingly competitive global marketplace.

Steve Kircher, Chairman and CEO of Solar Power, Inc., a solar company based in Roseville, added his support for the legislation, stating: We remain very enthused about building high quality manufacturing in the United States for solar technologies, specifically at McClellan. This legislation will certainly be helpful. We can t build a business that relies solely on selling products into Sacramento County. We currently sell our products into Europe, Asia and Australia and it is our firm intent to sell the products we will be making at McClellan throughout the world.

Greg Brehm, Distributed Renewable Energy Resource Director at OPDE U.S. Corporation, a solar manufacturer locating its American headquarters at the Port of West Sacramento also expressed support for Rep. Matsui's legislation saying, OPDE U.S. Corporation enthusiastically supports Congresswoman Matsui's efforts to enact the Clean Energy Technology Manufacturing and Export Assistance Act of 2010.

The OPDE U.S. Group includes Mecasolar U.S., which produces its Spanish-designed solar PV tracking equipment near the Port of West Sacramento, CA, U.S.A. from U.S. made steel. Mecasolar's trackers have demonstrated increased energy harvest by up to 40% for solar farms around the world. And Proinso, the distribution arm of OPDE U.S., views the Congresswoman's bill as an opportunity to increase exports of this U.S. manufactured clean technology equipment, Brehm added.

KEY PROVISIONS OF THE CLEAN ENERGY TECHNOLOGY MANUFACTURING AND EXPORT ASSISTANCE ACT OF 2010:

The legislation would create a Clean Energy Technology Manufacturing and Export Assistance Fund administered by International Trade Administration within the Department of Commerce to ensure American clean energy technology firms have the information and assistance they need to be competitive both at home and abroad.

Specifically, the Fund would serve to require the International Trade Administration to:

1. Assist U.S. Clean Tech firms with export assistance and find and navigate foreign markets to export their goods and services abroad.
2. Enhance U.S. Clean Tech Manufacturing firms by requiring the Fund to promote policies that will reduce production costs and encourage innovation, investment, and productivity in the clean energy technology sector.
3. Develop and Implement a National Clean Energy Technology Export Strategy.