Chu toured a GE-PrimeStar Solar plant in Arvada, Colo., on Nov. 18 that he said was a stellar example of American invention leading to American jobs. Later the same day, he toured the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in Golden, Colo. and spoke to a gathering of NREL and DOE employees.
At PrimeStar, Chu noted that the company adopted technology developed at NREL to build thin film solar panels made of cadmium and telluride. The technology can be more efficient than silicon solar cells and cost much less — because it uses 99 percent less chemical material than more conventional cells.
GE PrimeStar recently announced plans to build a large manufacturing plant in Aurora, Colo., which will employ about 400 people and build enough modules to power 80,000 homes.
Chu said that if the United States balks at helping private firms invest in the most exciting new
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