SolarWorld signs supply agreement with PetersenDean, largest privately held U.S. roofing and solar company

PetersenDean will install U.S.-made SolarWorld solar panels in its Solar4America campaign

HILLSBORO, Ore., April 15, 2014 – SolarWorld, the largest U.S. solar manufacturer for nearly 40 years, and PetersenDean, the nation's largest privately held roofing and solar company, today announced a partnership to offer homeowners an affordable path to solar ownership, using American-made solar systems installed by U.S. workers. Under the agreement, SolarWorld will supply high-performance solar panels manufactured at the company's headquarters factory in Hillsboro, Ore., for PetersenDean residential installations beginning this month.


The partnership is a key element of Solar4America, PetersenDean's initiative to support American jobs, manufacturing and energy independence by sourcing solar panels and all system components from domestic producers. Along with SolarWorld solar panels, each PetersenDean solar system includes Buy-American-Act-compliant inverters and racking installed by the construction company's U.S. workforce.

"We made a decision at PetersenDean to only source our products from North America," said Jim Petersen, founder of PetersenDean. "As a result, we are supporting the American economy, supporting the American worker and reinvesting those dollars back in America. It's that simple. I want to make sure that our products stand the test of time and that our customers are happy. That's why we choose to go American. It is time to take matters into our own hands. And that's what SolarWorld is all about. It is about lowering our electric bills. It is about creating our own energy policy. It is about American jobs, American panels, reinvesting in America."

PetersenDean and SolarWorld serve as compelling examples of the solar industry's ability to create jobs and stimulate economic growth. With industry analysts expecting U.S. residential solar installation to increase by about 50 percent in 2014, PetersenDean recently announced plans to expand its business into five new state markets and hire 4,000 additional workers. With the expansion, the company expects to install more than 200,000 roofs and solar systems in 2014, double its mark in 2013.

Similarly, SolarWorld released a report in March detailing how the company's purchasing activities have injected more than $1.46 billion into the U.S. economy since 2008. This industrial wellspring of business for American suppliers, shippers and professional service providers highlights solar manufacturing's demonstrated "multiplier effect" in creating jobs, filling factories and fueling investment nationwide.

"As partners, SolarWorld and PetersenDean are perfectly aligned," said Mukesh Dulani, U.S. president of SolarWorld. "Each of our companies has a three-decade history of meticulous workmanship and excellent customer service in the U.S. market. Moreover, both organizations embody the conviction that highly skilled and innovative American workers produce the best-quality products and services available in the world."

SolarWorld REAL VALUE: SolarWorld manufactures and sells solar power solutions and in doing so contributes to a cleaner energy supply worldwide. As the largest solar producer in the United States and Europe, SolarWorld employs about 3,200 people and carries out production in Hillsboro, Ore., and Freiberg and Arnstadt, Germany. From the raw material silicon to solar wafers, cells and panels, SolarWorld manages all stages of production ‒ including its own research and development. Through an international distribution network with locations in the United States, Europe, Singapore and South Africa, SolarWorld supplies customers all over the world. The company maintains high social standards at all locations across the globe and is committed to resource- and energy-efficient production. Headquartered in Bonn, Germany, SolarWorld was founded in 1998 and has been publically traded on the stock market since 1999. For more information, visit www.solarworld-usa.com.

About PetersenDean Roofing & Solar: Founded in 1984 by Jim Petersen, PetersenDean is the largest, full-service, privately held roofing and solar company in the United States. Specializing in new residential and commercial construction, PetersenDean works with some of the nation's largest builders and developers. With more than a million roofs under its belt, the Fremont, Calif.-based company employs 3,000 and operates in five states: Arizona, California, Florida, Nevada, and Texas. Please visit http://www.petersendean.com for more details.

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