SOLARMAKERS SEE SUNPATH

DOE Introduces SUNPATH: U.S. Manufacturing's New Hope For Growth?
Jessica Lillian, 12 July 2011 (Solar industry)

"The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has revealed plans for a new and possibly game-changing program for encouraging the domestic development of solar companies…SUNPATH - which stands for Scaling Up Nascent PV At Home - …is intended to address a crucial finance gap for the U.S. solar market - one that is intrinsically tied to the entire economy…"

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"…U.S. spending on foreign sources of energy has been a key factor in prolonging our current economic woes…SUNPATH aims to grow the domestic solar manufacturing market and help it serve as an economic engine…Early-stage corporate finance for solar in the U.S. is vibrant; the nation holds 77% of the global market share for venture capital and private equity…However, during the period between initial investments and manufacturing, companies tend to shift their activities abroad."

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"In 1995, the U.S. held a 43% market share for producing PV cells and modules. That percentage shrank to just 7% last year, while the global solar market grew exponentially…SUNPATH aims to develop…[an] investment-friendly environment in the U.S. and encourage solar companies to keep their R&D and manufacturing here…"