PLYMOUTH, Minn. - U.S. Deputy Secretary of Energy Daniel
Poneman today highlighted how Minnesota clean energy
companies and workers are supporting American leadership
and global competitiveness in manufacturing during a series
of events across the Twin Cities area. While in Minnesota,
Deputy Secretary Poneman also called for the extension of
clean energy tax credits to support American jobs,
including for construction workers, technicians, welders
and other electrical workers.
"Minnesota is on the front lines of America's growing clean
energy economy. Its innovative businesses and training
programs will develop a workforce with the skills necessary
for the manufacturing jobs of the future," said Deputy
Secretary Poneman. "To grow our clean energy industry,
President Obama has called on Congress to extend important
federal tax credits, including the 48C Advanced Energy
Manufacturing Tax Credit, which supports technologies
ranging from fuel cells and wind turbines to advanced
vehicle batteries."
Deputy Secretary Poneman toured Daikin McQuay's technology
center in Plymouth, Minnesota, highlighting the company's
innovative manufacturing operations, which are helping
industries around the world save money on energy costs. As
one of the world's largest producers of heating,
ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment, Daikin
McQuay is pushing the boundaries of energy efficient
equipment and supporting U.S. manufacturing competitiveness
in the global market. With the help of nearly $1.4 million
in Advanced Energy Manufacturing Tax Credits, the company
is expanding its Minnesota facilities to deploy new testing
module that will produce more efficient, cost-saving
technologies.
"The people of Daikin McQuay are looking to the future.
They are innovators and leaders - and it's gratifying to
see their work showcased," said Plymouth Mayor Kelli
Slavik.
In the United States, industrial processes consume about
one-third of the all energy produced in the country,
representing a huge opportunity to boost American
competitiveness through advances in energy-saving
technologies. Daikin McQuay is the first company to meet
the
Energy Department's Rooftop Unit Challenge, which
challenged manufacturers to produce commercial air
conditioning units that use 50 to 60 percent less energy
than traditional rooftop cooling units.
Today, Deputy Secretary Poneman also visited the
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW)
Local 343 Union in Rochester, where he met with workers and
toured the union's clean energy job training facility.
Local 343 offers a wind certification program for union
members who are interested in construction, installation
and maintenance jobs in America's growing wind energy
industry. The Local 343 facility features a 60-foot turbine
tower section to help train workers on deploying and
maintaining wind turbine technology. Minnesota ranks fifth
among U.S. states in total installed wind capacity and
added the fourth most new capacity in 2011, with over 540
megawatts installed last year.
"Energy- how can we conserve as well as what are the
alternate sources? Solar, wind and water are all great
alternatives and are worthy of our continued exploration.
The renewability is of great importance," stated Rochester
Mayor Ardell Brede.
Nationally, energy generation from wind turbines has grown
by 27 percent over the last year, with production
facilities now in more than 40 states. The Production Tax
Credit (PTC), which provides an important tax credit to
utility-scale wind producers in the United States and has
helped drive this growth, is set to expire at the end of
this year. The wind industry projects that nearly 30,000
jobs will be lost next year if the PTC expires, including
direct jobs as well as those in the wind energy supply
chain. Working in tandem with the PTC, the Advanced Energy
Manufacturing Tax Credit provides a 30 percent investment
credit to manufacturers who invest in capital equipment to
make components for clean energy projects in the U.S. In
his
Congressional To-Do List, President Obama has called
for an extension of these successful clean energy tax
credits to support continued growth of our nation's clean
energy economy, create jobs and boost American
manufacturing competitiveness and innovation.
Find more information on President Obama's call to extend
the clean energy tax credits
HERE.
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