From OFFICE OF U.S. REP. MARCY KAPTUR, NINTH DISTRICT OF OHIO
Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, announced the Department of Energy has awarded $16.1 million to the Toledo area to spur jobs and solar energy innovation.
Toledo Solar and First Solar will receive funding to advance their pathbreaking work on solar technology. As Ranking Member of the Energy and Water Subcommittee, Congresswoman Kaptur is a champion for American made solar and has oversight over funding the Department of Energy.
Toledo Solar will receive an $8.8 Million award, and invest an additional $10 million for a total of $18.8 Million, to demonstrate the application of semitransparent cadmium telluride (CdTe) solar panels to windows, addressing a new market for thin-film solar devices.
First Solar will receive $7.3 Million in matching funds and use this award on a project that will develop a tandem module combining CdTe and silicon carbide—a new residential rooftop product that is more efficient than silicon or thin-film modules on the market today.
“I’m honored to lead the fight for American energy manufacturing and an all of the above energy strategy. It means good-paying jobs and economic growth in Northwest Ohio,” said Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur. “This additional federal investment in Toledo Solar and First Solar is an investment in Ohio workers and Ohio companies that are the lifeblood of our local economy. This support will help us to build America’s energy future right here in the Heartland.”
“We are proud to receive this award which will help us continue the expansion of our domestically manufactured portfolio of solar technologies,” said Aaron Bates, CEO of Toledo Solar. “In this effort, we will work with our partners, the University of Toledo, The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and Alpen HPP, to accelerate commercialization of our CdTe-based, building integrated photovoltaic windows.”
“Toledo continues to be the nation’s hotbed for solar energy technology development, thanks to the advanced manufacturing DNA of the region, and the long-term support of Representative Marcy Kaptur. The University of Toledo is happy to be part of this award,” said Michael Heben, Director of the Wright Center of Photovoltaics Innovation and Commercialization at the University of Toledo Ohio.
