Opening of “First Solar” Plant in Frankfurt/Oder
Ambassador William R. Timken, Jr.

Frankfurt/Oder. July 9, 2007
As prepared for delivery.

Minister Gabriel,
Minister Junghanns,
Mayor Patzelt, 
Bruce Sohn and Heiner Eichermüller from First Solar,

I am very happy to join you here today in at the opening of the Frankfurt an der Oder First Solar plant, a factory for the production of state-of-the-art thin film solar cells.

This plant is a prime example of how the public and the private sector can work together to bring alternative energy technology to the marketplace.  This is exactly what Chancellor Merkel and President Bush mean when they say that the bottom line in any energy debate is the need to diversify our energy supplies in a cost-effective, environmentally responsible manner. 

A few weeks ago in Heiligendamm, the G8 leaders broke the deadlock on the international discussion about the way forward on climate change.  This was due in large part to the commitment on the part of Chancellor Merkel, President Bush and the other   G-8 leaders.   The G-8 countries recognized that numerous complementary steps – for example in the areas of renewable energy and energy efficiency – can help reduce emissions.  Each country individually needs to demonstrate that they take global warming seriously by adopting policies that encourage the research and development of clean efficient energy.  Along the way, nations can and will share successful conservation measures and innovations.

This is what is happening right now in the United States and Germany.  Both of our countries are leaders in the fields of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies.  Bringing alternative energies to the mainstream requires capital and strong supporters.  The world uses oil, natural gas, and coal for a reason: they are inexpensive and abundant.  To become attractive to consumers and industry, alternative energy sources require government subsidized support.  In the end, renewable energy sources will have to prove themselves in the marketplace but in the meantime, it is in everybody’s interest to push forward with realistic innovations so that when fossil fuels become too expensive and scarce, other sources of renewable energy can step in to keep our economies moving. 

The United States has long been a proponent of solar energy.  We led the way in the development of this technology during the 1970s.  Today, Germany is currently the leader in this field but the U.S. is close behind.  As a former businessman, I’ve always believed that competition is the driving force in technological development.  The U.S. is intent on further developing our solar energy sector.  As part of our commitment, President Bush has launched the Solar America Initiative.  The goal of the Solar America Initiative is to make solar electric technologies cost-competitive with other forms of electricity by 2015.  This year, the U.S. Government will spend $148 million – that’s a 75-percent increase over last year – to accelerate the development of advanced solar electric technologies. 

Researchers at the Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory work directly with companies to help develop technologies that would represent a high financial risk for private investors on their own.  Companies benefit in some obvious ways.  But the Department of Energy also benefits from its relationship with industry.  Inventing the technology is hard work, but getting it to the point of commercialization is just as difficult.  Only private companies with real customers can do that.  In 2003, the partnership between First Solar and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory to improve the efficiency of photovoltaic modules was highlighted with a prestigious R&D 100 Award.  The winning of an R&D 100 Award is a mark of excellence known to industry, government, and academia as proof that the product is one of the most innovative ideas of the year.

That innovative technology is now being implemented here in this new plant.  But by the same token, this plant would not have been possible without the support of the German federal government, the state of Brandenburg, and the city of Frankfurt an der Oder.  Public funds still remain key to the fortunes of the renewable energy sector in both Germany and the United States.  The solar industry has developed into an important new industrial sector in Germany and in the U.S. Germany’s leadership in the renewable energy industry is admirable.  It has created jobs, especially here in the eastern part of Germany.  Eastern Germany has taken on a leading role in developing the technical know-how in renewable energy.  American companies are very happy with the conditions here in Europe’s Solar Valley. 

The U.S. is the largest foreign direct investor in eastern Germany.  These capital investments are bringing job opportunities to people.  We are very pleased to see First Solar, an American company make this big new investment.

Congratulations to everybody connected with this project.  The best of luck to First Solar in the future.