It was a union of sorts between federal, state and industry initiatives, culminating in a day that will be remembered in the history of solar power. At the factory of SunPower and Flextronics in Milpitas, Calif., Department of Energy Chief Steven Chu unveiled a large $1.2 billion loan guarantee for a solar farm from NRG Energy that will be built in San Luis Obispo County, Calif. At the same time, California Governor Jerry Brown signed into law a bill that says California utilities need to source 33 percent of their electricity from clean power by 2020. To top it off, the event was also the official opening of the SunPower and Flextronics factory, which will create 100 jobs in the area and build enough solar panels to power 25,000 homes each year.
Images from the slideshow
Here’s my photos of the event:
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1 / 23Solar workers line up for the eventSolar workers line up for the event -
2 / 23Politicians get a tour of the factoryPoliticians get a tour of the factory -
3 / 23Chu & Brown on the solar factory tourChu & Brown on the solar factory tour -
4 / 23Chu & Brown on the solar factory tourChu & Brown on the solar factory tour -
5 / 23Chu & Brown on the solar factory tourChu & Brown on the solar factory tour -
6 / 23SunPower & Flextronics factory in Milpitas, CASunPower & Flextronics factory in Milpitas, CA -
7 / 23SunPower & Flextronics factory in Milpitas, CASunPower & Flextronics factory in Milpitas, CA -
8 / 23SunPower & Flextronics Factory in Milpitas, CASunPower & Flextronics Factory in Milpitas, CA -
9 / 23SunPower & Flextronics Factory in Milpitas, CASunPower & Flextronics Factory in Milpitas, CA -
10 / 23SunPower & Flextronics Factory in Milpitas, CASunPower & Flextronics Factory in Milpitas, CA -
11 / 23SunPower & Flextronics Factory in Milpitas, CASunPower & Flextronics Factory in Milpitas, CA -
12 / 23SunPower & Flextronics Factory in Milpitas, CASunPower & Flextronics Factory in Milpitas, CA. Photo by Katie Fehrenbacher/Gigaom -
13 / 23SunPower & Flextronics Factory in Milpitas, CASunPower & Flextronics Factory in Milpitas, CA -
14 / 23SunPower & Flextronics Factory in Milpitas, CASunPower & Flextronics Factory in Milpitas, CA -
15 / 23SunPower & Flextronics factory in Milpitas, CASunPower & Flextronics factory in Milpitas, CA. Courtesy of SunPower. -
16 / 23CA Gov. Jerry Brown on the solar factory tourCA Gov. Jerry Brown on the solar factory tour -
17 / 23CA Gov. Jerry Brown learns about the solar factoryCA Gov. Jerry Brown learns about the solar factory -
18 / 23DOE Chief Steven Chu speaks at the eventDOE Chief Steven Chu speaks at the event -
19 / 23CA Gov. Jerry Brown gives his speechCA Gov. Jerry Brown gives his speech -
20 / 23SunPower Founder Dick Swanson gives remarksSunPower Founder Dick Swanson gives remarks at event in 2011 -
21 / 23SunPower CEO Tom Werner gives a speechSunPower CEO Tom Werner gives a speech (he hurt his neck in a biking accident last week) -
22 / 23SunPower CEO Tom Werner signs a panelSunPower CEO Tom Werner signs a panel -
23 / 23DOE Chief Steven Chu sign a panelDOE Chief Steven Chu sign a panel

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