Governor Pushes Solar, Renewable Power Tax Credits

ENVIRONMENT 

By Ethan Lindsey

Bend, OR  March 24, 2008 3:55 p.m.

Governor Ted Kulongoski was in central Oregon today [Monday] to publicize the growth of Bend-based PV Powered, a maker of solar power inverters. Central Oregon correspondent Ethan Lindsey reports.

PV Powered makes the machines that convert sun rays into actual power. The company has tripled its employment to 60 jobs in the past year, and is planning to add more than 100 workers by 2010.

The growth meant the company needed a new factory. Glenn Harris is the president. He says PV Powered is now leasing a building that  used to be operated by Jeld-Wen, the wood products maker.

Glenn Harris: “The timber industry was the strength of our economy and taking a building like this and moving it back into use in renewables. It's a new economic statement and the Governor is really showing his leadership on a local level.”

Harris says the company may buy the building in the future, using the state's renewable energy business tax credit.

At the factory, the Governor promoted energy policies such as that credit.

The Governor says he remains open to a debate about building liquefied natural gas terminals - but as a transitional energy source.

He says in the longer-term, Oregon could be a renewable energy business leader.

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© 2008 OPB