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SolarReserve CEO Kevin Smith on the completion of the company’s new solar power tower and current issues facing the solar industry.
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To our next guest now his company received at 737.
Million dollar Department of Energy loan guarantee last year.
That was suffer Crescent dunes -- solar energy plant and just this morning solar reserves that the company.
Announced the completion of 540 foot solar power tower Kevin Smith CEOs and office before -- rejoins us now from LA.
We talk all the time as you know Kevin about -- -- that the government loans going into certain businesses and how that money is used -- tell us about the announcement that we are making.
I today and what you hope to gain from that particular plan.
Well we we started construction in.
In September of last year there's about a hundred workers on site right now will peak at around 600 workers on site.
And that practical create about 4000 jobs across the US some I visited some -- our manufacturing suppliers and in Kansas and Missouri last week.
I'm we've now have orders for services and equipment in about twenty states across the US so it's it's we think it's a win win for everybody it's a great technology.
From our technology is unique because it can store solar energy so we can provide solar energy 24 hours of.
Day now you're the environment in which you do business eight of the other times you've been on we've talked about -- is it.
Quote -- justified for the government to invest in this and -- defended that.
Has the environment changed at all because that's become such a hot news issue -- I guess the simple way of asking it is so what's the so -- effect been on you.
Well I think the the effect specifically on -- reserve is.
Is certainly the US market -- slow down a bit there isn't as much support.
For renewable energy here in in the US -- we've expanded our activities internationally.
We still have some some strong projects here we've got up -- practically up to start construction.
In Southern California in now -- early next year but you we've expanded our active is international because the international markets have strong support.
Opera Noble Energy there were looking for long term solutions and I think we need to do that here as well so what we find another countries have an international let's just take take China for example because it's well publicized as the government pours money into this kind of thing.
The American company -- -- that we've got to do that here just to keep up with them.
And the opposite side of that argument that you weigh in on it is America's.
Winning edge is innovation we have to be the idea country.
And you know let them do the other part of it in other other countries what do you -- Well I think certainly that's that's been -- you know that that history is that we've been more more on the innovation side.
Unfortunately than the manufacturing activities in the manufacturing jobs go overseas right I'm actually going to China and in ten days.
For -- for a week's trip to look at a number of opportunities force there.
I I think I think we have certainly some manufacturing capabilities here in the US and we need to utilize those and expand always -- so we'll just wanna say about that in most great ideas Steve -- you know -- -- -- different industry but isn't Steve Jobs right that those jobs are not coming back.
In your industry and and others well.
Well I mean my -- I mean I've -- we've got.
Companies in you know I was in in Kansas is visiting Taylor forge which is a manufacturing facility.
You're Ericsson in in Missouri we've got a bunch of suppliers across the US that have have real manufacturing jobs you know guys with.
Hard -- and welders and things like that and and there's no reason why we should let those jobs go overseas OK Kevin thank you very much again.
Bob good luck with the new project thanks for coming on so much and and please come back and -- -- a big issues Accenture history but for the.
