Congressman Hayworth, U.S. Commerce Official Tour Scottsdale Kyocera Solar Facility

Congressman Hayworth, U.S. Commerce Official Tour Scottsdale Kyocera Solar Facility

Congressman J.D. Hayworth (R-Ariz.) and Department of Commerce Assistant Secretary Al Frink met today with Kyocera Solar executives and employees, touring the Scottsdale facility and discussing the impact that the solar power industry has had on Arizona's economy.

"It is fitting that Kyocera has a solar power manufacturing plant right here in the Valley of the Sun," said Congressman Hayworth. "The Securing America's Energy Independence Act that I have championed in Congress not only makes sense for this company, but makes sense for our state and our country as we work towards energy independence."

The Energy Policy Act of 2005 includes language by Hayworth to encourage residents and businesses to invest in solar and fuel cell technology by offering 30% tax credits towards the purchase of fuel cell and solar energy systems. The Securing America's Energy Independence Act extends these critical federal solar and fuel cell tax credits, set to expire in 2007, until 2015.

The long-term tax credit extension is expected to create more than 55,000 new solar industry related jobs and produce nationwide financial impact of $45 billion by 2015.

Arizona is already is a leader in this new technology. In the last two years, the number of solar industry firms has increased by 20 percent, with 100 firms now in business. There are more than 1,000 jobs in the Arizona solar industry and a study by the Renewable Energy Policy Project shows that passage of this legislation will produce more than 3,000 new solar-industry jobs and $1.6 billion in business investments in Arizona by 2015.

http://hayworth.house.gov/cgi-data/news/files/406.shtml