WTOL.com: News, Weather and Sport for Toledo, OhioSolar panel manufacturers not worried about cuts

Solar panel manufacturers not worried about cuts

TOLEDO, OH (WTOL) - Over recent weeks, plenty of attention has focused on job cuts by local solar panel manufacturers, but two local solar executives say now's not the time to push the panic button for firms including Willard and Kelsey and First Solar.

"The industry is at that point, 8 to 10 years into some significant growth where consolidations start to happen." says Craig Winn with Applied Technology Integration.

"It's going to be difficult but they have the technology. The more projects they can get tied to, they're going to grow from there." says Greg Knudson with Nextronex Energy Systems, LLC.

Knudson's firm makes solar inverters and has wrapped up its first full year of operations.

"We received about $2 million in sales. This year we expect to grow way beyond that."

Winn's company makes solar racking systems.

"My company more than doubled its sales last year, as the solar panel industry was starting to come under fire from off-shore pricing."

The Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce wants to help boost local solar businesses, through its new solar initiative.

"About 55 members who are in work in the solar industry, they need a lot of support. A lot of them are new companies." says Chamber President Mark V'Soske.

Dave Heidenreich, an industry expert who spoke at the chamber's annual luncheon, says current challenges will present long-term opportunities, predicting solar power production will drop in cost from $4,000 per kilowatt hour, to $1,000 per kilowatt hour by the year 2030.

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