Clean Energy Technology Manufacturing and Export Assistance Act of 2011

Mr. President, I rise today with Senator Tom Udall to introduce the Clean Energy Technology Manufacturing and Export Assistance Act of 2011. Recently, the United States Council for International Business, which represents America's top global companies, joined with an array of leading U.S. business groups in urging ramped-up efforts to promote U.S. clean energy exports.

Global demand, particularly in rapidly-growing markets such as Brazil, China, India and Russia, will be especially critical in expanding America's clean energy technology industries and driving U.S. leadership of a 21st Century clean energy economy. According to a report by the Economic Policy Institute, the U.S. trade deficit with China in clean energy products more than doubled from 2008 to 2010 and was estimated to cost more than 8,000 U.S. jobs in 2010.

The purpose of the bill is to authorize the Department of Commerce International Trade Administration to establish a Clean Energy Technology Manufacturing and Export Assistance Program to ensure that United States clean energy technology firms, including clean energy technology parts suppliers and engineering and design firms, have the information and assistance they need to be competitive and create clean energy technology sector jobs in the United States.

The Commerce Department is the leading agency to promote clean energy exports for the President's newly established Trade Promotion Coordinating Committee within his National Export Initiative. Specifically, the bill requires the International Trade Administration to assist U.S. Clean Tech firms with export assistance to help them navigate foreign markets to export their goods and services abroad, enhance U.S. Clean Tech Manufacturing firms by requiring ITA to promote policies that will reduce production costs and encourage innovation, investment, and productivity in the clean energy technology sector, and to develop and implement a National Clean Energy Technology Export Strategy.

Arkansas is becoming a national leader in clean energy technology. Several companies--LM Windpower, Nordex, and Mitsubishi Power Systems-- have established wind turbine manufacturing plants in Arkansas. Arkansas Power Electronics International, Inc. is a small business dedicated to developing and marketing state-of-the-art technology in power electronics systems, electronic motor drives, and power electronics packaging. BlueInGreen, a Fayetteville company, makes energy efficient products to improve and maintain water quality. Silicon Solar Solutions, an Arkansas-based startup, is commercializing its large grain polysilicon technology company. All of these companies will benefit by having a focused clean energy trade and export program established within the International Trade Administration.

Mr. President, I rise today with Senator Tom Udall to introduce the Clean Energy Technology Manufacturing and Export Assistance Act of 2011. Recently, the United States Council for International Business, which represents America's top global companies, joined with an array of leading U.S. business groups in urging ramped-up efforts to promote U.S. clean energy exports.

Global demand, particularly in rapidly-growing markets such as Brazil, China, India and Russia, will be especially critical in expanding America's clean energy technology industries and driving U.S. leadership of a 21st Century clean energy economy. According to a report by the Economic Policy Institute, the U.S. trade deficit with China in clean energy products more than doubled from 2008 to 2010 and was estimated to cost more than 8,000 U.S. jobs in 2010.

The purpose of the bill is to authorize the Department of Commerce International Trade Administration to establish a Clean Energy Technology Manufacturing and Export Assistance Program to ensure that United States clean energy technology firms, including clean energy technology parts suppliers and engineering and design firms, have the information and assistance they need to be competitive and create clean energy technology sector jobs in the United States.

The Commerce Department is the leading agency to promote clean energy exports for the President's newly established Trade Promotion Coordinating Committee within his National Export Initiative. Specifically, the bill requires the International Trade Administration to assist U.S. Clean Tech firms with export assistance to help them navigate foreign markets to export their goods and services abroad, enhance U.S. Clean Tech Manufacturing firms by requiring ITA to promote policies that will reduce production costs and encourage innovation, investment, and productivity in the clean energy technology sector, and to develop and implement a National Clean Energy Technology Export Strategy.

Arkansas is becoming a national leader in clean energy technology. Several companies--LM Windpower, Nordex, and Mitsubishi Power Systems-- have established wind turbine manufacturing plants in Arkansas. Arkansas Power Electronics International, Inc. is a small business dedicated to developing and marketing state-of-the-art technology in power electronics systems, electronic motor drives, and power electronics packaging. BlueInGreen, a Fayetteville company, makes energy efficient products to improve and maintain water quality. Silicon Solar Solutions, an Arkansas-based startup, is commercializing its large grain polysilicon technology company. All of these companies will benefit by having a focused clean energy trade and export program established within the International Trade Administration.