The United States will lose 100,000 clean-tech manufacturing jobs unless greater efforts are made to encourage the development of domestic plants and factories, a union-sponsored study finds.
If offshoring continues, the U.S. could lose 100,000 clean-tech manufacturing jobs by 2015.
The U.S. is presently importing about 70 percent of the components and systems used in renewable energy projects, according to the Apollo Alliance, an organization funded by unions, foundations and some businesses.
If this continues, it could lose 100,000 jobs by 2015 and 250,000 by 2030.
The study recommended the adoption of national energy legislation to create a market for pricing and controlling carbon emissions. It also suggested “clawback” provisions for federal clean-tech tax credits if companies receiving the credits develop production facilities overseas.
The Obama Administration has awarded $4.7 billion in tax credits under the Recovery Act and hopes to win approval for $5 billion more. However, of the 90 companies receiving the incentive, 23 have also developed manufacturing facilities in countries such as China, Mexico, India and Malaysia, the study found.
The 23 companies received $458 million in tax credits for U.S.-based projects.
While the study acknowledged the offshore investments were meant to serve foreign markets, it argued the facilities would not help the U.S. expand market share for clean-tech products.
If 70 percent continues to come from overseas, U.S. manufacturers will suffer.
