GEORGETOWN, TX—GAF Energy is investing $100 million to build a new assembly plant here to make solar roof shingles for residential housing domestically rather than in Asia.
LEETSDALE, PA—Pittsburgh-based steel fabricator BCI Steel CO. and solar-tracker manufacturer Nextracker will hold a dedication ceremony next week to reopen the historic Bethlehem steel factory, which is being repurposed to make tracker equipment for large solar power plants.
TAMIL NADU, India—Yanmar Engine Manufacturing India has installed a 1 megawatt peak solar photovoltaic generation system on the roof of its plant here to provide about 30 percent of the facility’s energy.
LONG BEACH, CA—Heliogen says it will build a full-scale facility here to develop, assemble and test heliostats (reflective mirrors) and other components for its concentrated solar power system.
It is safe to say that the debate about the environmental impact of plastic will continue. But, it is also a fact that many manufacturers of plastic products are quietly becoming greener.
MONZA, Italy—Polyolefin manufacturer Borealis has announced that it is installing a solar photovoltaic rooftop array at its plant here to generate electricity for production purposes. Interestingly, the array's modules use Borealis' Quentys encapsulant film technology.
WASHINGTON—The U.S. Department of Energy recently launched a $3 million prize to revitalize domestic solar panel manufacturing. The program will support entrepreneurs as they develop transformative ideas into concepts and then into early-stage prototypes ready for industry testing.
Daimler AG is developing a sustainable supply chain for its worldwide assembly plants. In particular, the automaker is strengthening enforcement activities that relate to human rights, including the responsible procurement of raw materials.
In the future, vehicles may travel down roads covered by overhead catenary wires and on highways paved with solar panels. Several experimental projects already exist in China, France and Southern California.
