Obama awards $2B for solar power, hails new jobs

[Dr. A ♥ O 203]

Obama awards $2B for solar power, hails new jobs

Obama hands out $2 billion for new solar plants, says money will help create thousands of jobs

Julie Pace, Associated Press Writer, On Saturday July 3, 2010, 9:05 am EDTWASHINGTON (AP) -- The government is handing out nearly $2 billion for new solar plants that President Barack Obama says will create thousands of jobs and increase the use of renewable energy sources.

Obama announced the initiative in his weekly radio and online address Saturday, saying the money is part of his plan to bring new industries to the U.S.

"We're going to keep competing aggressively to make sure the jobs and industries of the future are taking root right here in America," Obama said.

The two companies that will receive the money from the president's $862 billion economic stimulus are Abengoa Solar, which will build one of the world's largest solar plants in Arizona, creating 1,600 construction jobs; and Abound Solar Manufacturing, which is building plants in Colorado and Indiana. The Obama administration says those projects will create more than 2,000 construction jobs and 1,500 permanent jobs.

Obama's announcement came a day after the Labor Department reported that employers slashed payrolls last month for the first time in six months, driven by the expected end of 225,000 temporary census jobs. Meanwhile, private-sector hiring rose by 83,000 workers.

The unemployment rate dropped to 9.5 percent.

Obama said that while it may take years to bring back all the jobs lost during the recession, the economy is moving in a positive direction. He placed some of the blame for the slow pace of recovery on Republicans, saying GOP lawmakers, "are playing the same old Washington games and using their power to hold this relief hostage."

Obama has said that to bring the nation's economy back from the brink of a depression, it was necessary to add to the country's debt in the short term.

Republicans have tried to capitalize on that growing sum. Georgia Sen. Saxby Chambliss said in the Republican's weekly address that the country's $13 trillion debt is a national security issue that will leave the U.S. vulnerable and force future generations to "pay higher taxes to foot the bill for Democrats' out-of-control spending."

Online:

Abengoa Solar: http://www.abengoasolar.com

Abound Solar Manufacturing: http://abound.com/

White House: http://www.whitehouse.gov/

Source

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Excellent news. The future is now.

[alienlovechild 75]

The Obama administration says those projects will create more than 2,000 construction jobs and 1,500 permanent jobs.

Only Obama thinks blowing around a half million per job is a job's program.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

3500 jobs for $2bn investment doesn't seem like a great deal.

[john & jean 37]

3500 jobs for $2bn investment doesn't seem like a great deal.

anything about Obama is not great, he is a failure in every way.....

[Obama 2012 1,714]

Yay more negative income to the government..... so moronic.

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

Yes, this is quite good. More of the same please.

[SuperDuper! 230]

3500 jobs for $2bn investment doesn't seem like a great deal.

Steve thinks it is great news. How can you argue with that??

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

Steve thinks it is great news. How can you argue with that??

It is.

[alienlovechild 75]

Yes, this is quite good. More of the same please.

How long have you had solar panels on your home?

[Dan J 277]

Only Obama thinks blowing around a half million per job is a job's program.

If you are looking at money to paychecks, then welfare is the best program out there. There is little overhead cost. Infrastructure projects require equipment, materials, services (insurance, transportation), etc. Which also indirectly benefits the companies providing those things.

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

How long have you had solar panels on your home?

I don't own a home. We've had about 7 clients in the past two years where we've spec'd them. These homes are virtually off the grid.

[lostinblue 1,989]

Steve thinks it is great news. How can you argue with that??

How long will it take to pay back that investment from the permanent jobs created by this effort?

[Darnell 8,478]

I truly hope is no 'chinese products for import' as part of this 2 billion dolla 'subsidy'.

Seriously.

[alienlovechild 75]

I don't own a home. We've had about 7 clients in the past two years where we've spec'd them. These homes are virtually off the grid.

S how long does it take the homeowners to break even on their investment? Does it add vslue of the resale of the home?

The point is that even good intentions and going green may not be economical and I'm guessing tax breaks are the deciding factor.