Malloy Visits Somers Technology Company on "Jobs Tour"

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy paid a visit to Specialized Technology Resources Industries (STR) in Somers on Monday afternoon to learn about the company's progress in developing photovoltaic technology as part of his “Jobs Tour.”

Greeted by a gang of television news cameras, the governor answered questions on the ongoing budget and union concession negotiations.

Malloy confirmed that layoff notices would proceed, “we will continue to notify everybody whose job would be interrupted should the package not pass.”

Without a deal, large scale layoffs would begin in the middle of August. Union leaders were scheduled to meet again Monday to discuss their options.

“It's not a new deal,” Malloy said, “if some unions want to re-vote, that's up to them.”

Malloy hoped to see a deal completed as quickly as possible, “there is a Sword of Damocles hanging over a lot of families right now, and they need this resolved, one way or the other.”

Directly affected by the possible layoffs would be two large State facilities in Enfield - the Department of Motor Vehicles and the Enfield Correctional Institution. The Enfield DMV is scheduled to be closed should the layoffs proceed as planned. The prison will also be closed due to budget constraints.

Malloy insisted that the prison system as a whole would not be compromised by monetary issues, and the number of beds would be dictated by the needs of the corrections system. The Enfield facility is an older facility and might have been closed regardless of the financial conditions, though probably not as quickly as present plans.

“There is no one out of jail today that would have otherwise been incarcerated outside of these budgetary considerations,” said Malloy.

The budget deal and union issues were of primary interest to the press present at the visit, but the reason for the visit to STR was energy and solar technology.

STR is a publicly traded company specializing in Solar Panel Encapsulation and Quality Assurance Services. Between its two facilities in Enfield and Somers, STR employs 121 people.

Director of Research and Development for STR Dr. Ryan Tucker explained how the efficiency of photovoltaic (PV) panels had increased from 12 percent a decade ago to roughly 20-21 percent today. The technology is changing, driving down costs and improving investment paybacks. New materials development is driving the technology and improving the efficiency.

“It is to a point where during noon time/middle of the day PV is just as cost effective as what we call traditional power sources like coal. The job for the PV industry is getting the word out that PV power is cost competitive with traditional power sources,” said Tucker.

He also said that photovoltaic power was not as susceptible to interruption from natural disasters and the like. The panels have a warranty of 25 years, but Tucker said he believed they would last at least 30, perhaps even 50 years.

Malloy said the renewable energy technology would be a featured component of his energy plan for the state. Solar would represent one of several technologies competing for a place in the plan.

“There is something in the energy bill that promotes photovoltaic technology,” Malloy said, “It was a far better package that passed than prior attempts, it creates incentives for utilities to use alternate energy sources.”

The energy bill contains a 10 megawatt commitment in the first year with a 30 megawatt commitment overall for alternative energy. Malloy said he believes it's possible that those commitments could increase in future legislation.

“I am not hidden by my desire to have alternative energy and to be price conscious. This industry has promise,” said Malloy.

He claimed that by approaching the commitment in stages offered the state flexibility as technology improves without guessing at future prices.