Green Tech at State Level Thrives Despite Solyndra Debacle

October 30, 2011 in Green Business, Green Business News, Green News, Green Jobs Chicago, IL, Green News, Green Jobs New York, NY, Green News, U.S., Green Stories with 43 Comments

Stion Takes Advantage of State Tax Incentives for Manufacturing Solar Products - Image from Stion

Despite a wave of political battle around the failed solar company Solyndra and the related waste in taxpayer dollars, many other companies are bypassing the fight and accelerating efforts to create green technologies with plans that actually work.

Take for instance, Mississippi, which has attracted biofuel companies, a “smart glass” maker and a Silicon Valley-based solar manufacturing company – Stion, which actually began its operations in Asia — by offering tax incentives. This is a state not typically on the map for accomplishing major strides in the green technology industry. Just last week, General Electric also announced efforts to invest $600 million to erect a solar panel factory in Colorado using technologies created at National Renewable Energy Laboratories.

In addition, the states of California, Oregon, Massachusetts, New York and Colorado top the list of states that generated large amounts of geothermal, wind and solar energy last year. About 10 percent of green energy came from California, North Dakota and Iowa.

Solyndra recently declared bankruptcy despite acquiring a $535 million federal loan guarantee to create a factory. Republicans and Democrats are on opposite sides of the fence regarding the effectiveness of the President Barack Obama administration’s green initiatives.

As a result, mostly regional and state policies are taking matters into their own hands to produce renewable energy and develop new companies in the green industry.

“Instead of trying to affect things, we see the situation as it is and just try to find what the best place (region) to go is,” said venture capitalist Bilal Zuberi, of General Capital Partners. “We’re not expecting (Washington) to deliver, and we see positive trends at the state level.”

Role of Federal Government Remains Up in the Air Regarding the Future of Green Technology in America

Although the U.S. government continues to be involved in energy policy, states are setting trends specifically in the green technology industry. They are the ones attempting to draw entrepreneurs and investors by providing modern grid technologies and emphasis on hybrid or fully electric vehicles.

“The truth is, we really haven’t had strong federal leadership for some time, so it’s really been up to the states to find ways to lead,” said Ron Pernick, managing director of Clean Edge, a research company. “Companies are looking for the best set of incentives, skilled labor, technical infrastructure, and easy access to ready markets.”

However, many universities and new businesses still receive grants from the Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy, a research agency within the U.S. Department of Energy designed to propel the growth of green technology and green jobs.

Still, Korea, Japan, Germany and China are moving more quickly than the United States is in developing green technology businesses. In fact, lithium ion maker Boston Power moved from Massachusetts to China last month due the greater availability of Chinese investors and government support in the green field.

“Yes, we’ll have leadership and successes in California, Oregon, Massachusetts, and elsewhere, but the lack of a national baseline handicaps all of these players,” Pernick said.

About U.S. Green Technology

U.S. Green Technology was established in January of 2009. U.S. Green Technology‘s mission is to share news and information about the latest advancements in green technologies and green jobs. U.S. Green Technology‘s areas of coverage include providing information on green social media campaigns, changes in green business, spread of the green movement throughout entertainment, green technological invention, new green start-ups, green manufacturing, green building, and green jobs. U.S. Green Technology recently launched a new free business directory for companies to promote their products and services. U.S. Green Technology also offers a green jobs board, powered by Simply Hired, for employers to post green jobs for job seekers interested in careers in the green jobs industries such as clean energy, renewable fuels, information technology, green building and green transportation.

Jobs

Post a Job! $99 for 30 days

Sign-up for U.S. Green Technology‘s weekly newsletter to receive the latest green technology information, including the latest green jobs, blogs, news, and events.

Related articles
Enhanced by Zemanta

About YaShekia King: YaShekia King, of Indianapolis, Ind., began writing professionally in 2003. Her work has appeared in several print and online publications including the “South Bend Tribune,”Ehow.com, Wisegeek.com and “Clouds Across the Stars,” an international book. King holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Ball State University. She also is a licensed real estate agent, is a clinical certified dental assistant and is completing her master’s degree in human resource management through DeVry University. Connect with YaShekia on YaShekia King

All Posts by