Solar energy jobs show signs of heading overseasEvery indication suggests that U.S. consumers will continue to purchase more and more photovoltaic panels and other solar energy products in the coming years. However, there is growing concern that less of those products will be manufactured in the United States, despite the best efforts of state and federal lawmakers. A recent report by Bloomberg News focused on a decision by BP to close a solar manufacturing plant in Frederick, Maryland because of costs, eliminating about 320 jobs in the process.It seems that many US companies are moving their solar operations abroad for the cheaper labor. News reports have noted that several prominent solar companies have taken U.S. government funding to create new green jobs, only to end up hiring far more people in manufacturing positions at overseas plants in countries like China and Malaysia where it is obviously less expensive. For end consumers, this means that solar photovoltaic panel prices are likely to remain steady and low, especially in light of a global recession that has already reduced prices, and in some cases, demand, in various markets. For U.S. policymakers though, the big question they need to be addressing from these trends in the solar industry, ae whether the promise of solar jobs has enough potential to make a significant economic boost to the country's continuing fiscal problems, or whether it will be the latest manufacturing sector to see jobs flow to low-paid overseas workers. Return to the solar energy home page. Return to solar power news. Return to advantages of solar energy.
|
