Suniva® to Join Commerce Secretary Gary Locke on Business-Development Trade Mission to ChinaFirst Cabinet-Level Trade Mission of the Obama Administration Will Promote Clean Energy
NORCROSS, GA – May 13, 2010 – Suniva, Inc., a U.S. manufacturer of high-efficiency monocrystalline silicon solar cells and modules, today announced that Chief Marketing Officer Bryan Ashley will join U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke on the Obama Administration’s first cabinet-level trade mission. From May 15-21, the delegation will make stops in Hong Kong, Shanghai and Beijing to explore trade opportunities to meet China’s growing demand for clean energy technologies. The mission will help U.S. companies already doing business in China, such as Suniva, accelerate their growth and create more exports and U.S. jobs.
“As the only U.S. manufacturer of high-efficiency silicon solar cells and modules that uses U.S. technology and U.S. production, we are honored to have the opportunity to join Secretary Locke on this important trade mission,” said Ashley. “We are already exporting the majority of our production to Europe and Asia. The robust market for clean energy technology in China is an opportunity for U.S. companies like Suniva to help the country meet its renewable energy goals.”
Suniva has exemplified the economic growth ideals put forth by President Obama, by exporting production while creating U.S. jobs. Last year, Suniva exported more than 90 percent of its product to Asia and Europe. The company won the 2010 Renewable Energy Exporter of the Year from the Export- Import Bank of the Unites States and CEO John Baumstark introduced President Obama before his major policy speech on exports and U.S. job creation. Suniva has also created more than 150 new domestic jobs and, subject to a DOE loan guarantee, is planning to hire 500 additional staff at a new manufacturing plant in Michigan. The company employs a diverse workforce-approximately a quarter of employees are military veterans and many others were hired from shuttered automotive plants.
China’s rapid economic growth has been accompanied by a huge increase in demand for energy and a dramatic jump in harmful emissions. In response to these challenges, China’s central government has made clean energy and energy efficiency strategic priorities, implementing programs and new regulations designed to reduce emissions of major pollutants and greenhouse gases. These new requirements offer U.S. companies a unique, important opportunity to provide a wide range of clean energy technologies to China’s growing market.
Because exports directly and indirectly support millions of American jobs, they are an increasingly important part of the economy and a key component of the Obama Administration’s efforts to create jobs through aggressive trade promotion strategies. In March at the annual Export-Import Bank conference, President Obama issued the executive order creating the National Export Initiative, which sets a goal of doubling U.S. exports during the next five years in support of 2 million U.S. jobs. Suniva is helping the U.S. achieve these goals every day.
About Suniva
Based in Norcross, GA, Suniva® manufactures high-efficiency monocrystalline silicon solar cells and high power solar modules with low-cost techniques to make solar-generated electricity cost-competitive with fossil fuels. Suniva leverages exclusive licenses to critical patents and patent-pending intellectual property developed by Suniva founder and CTO, Dr. Ajeet Rohatgi, at the Georgia Institute of Technology’s University Center of Excellence for Photovoltaic Research, which is funded by the Department of Energy. Ranked #2 in The Wall Street Journal’s Top 10 Venture-Backed Clean Technology Companies in 2010, Suniva is making solar sensible as it sells its products worldwide. Suniva is also the 2010 recipient of the Renewable Energy Exporter of the Year, awarded by the Export-Import Bank of the United States. For additional information, please visit www.suniva.com.