$500 million

Amount of money SolarWorld has invested in a solar-power manufacturing plant in Hillsboro, Oregon, according to "Here Comes the Sun. Right?" in The New York Times.

SolarWorld, based in Bonn Germany, opened the Oregon plant last fall in a former semiconductor plant. Less than 1 percent of electricity generated in the United States comes from solar sources, but SolarWorld must be hoping that the use of solar power will expand in this country. (The company's Sunkits system is shown.)

Indeed, the Obama administration has made renewable and clean energy a cornerstone of its energy policy and, according to the Times' article, "The recent stimulus package included grants for businesses and utilities that install solar energy systems." What's more, you can take advantage of a 30 percent tax credit for a residential solar installation, and last fall's bailout eliminated the dollar cap on how much is covered under the credit. e-mail | Twitter

Essential information: Find out how the proposed American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 might create new jobs, save Americans hundreds of billions of dollars in energy costs, reduce global warming and pollution, and wean the country off imported oil.