Danfoss recently welcomed Illinois Congressman Adam Kinzinger (R–16th District) to its facility in Loves Park, IL, to discuss how energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies save money, create jobs, and benefit the economy and security of the US.
During the meeting, Congressman Kinzinger, who serves on the House Energy and Commerce Committee and Foreign Affairs Committee, addressed Danfoss employees and members of the press, emphasizing his support for renewable energy and encouraging deployment of renewable and energy-efficient technologies as key components of a broad national energy policy.
The company’s Loves Park facility is focused on the development and advancement of high efficiency variable frequency drives (VFDs) for HVACR, water and wastewater treatment, and industrial applications, as well as solar inverters for the rapidly growing renewable energy market.
“There is a great opportunity to save energy and money by broadly deploying these technologies in the United States, where they are underutilized compared to other major countries,” explained Robert Wilkins, vice president public affairs, Danfoss, during the meeting.
Congressman Kinzinger, who sits on the Board of Directors for the Alliance to Save Energy, further noted that proven, existing technologies, like the VFDs and solar inverters manufactured by Danfoss, play a critical role in improving U.S. energy productivity today – driving solutions for U.S. energy challenges and helping make the country less reliant on foreign resources.
The meeting concluded with a tour of Danfoss’ production facility, during which Danfoss employees showed the Congressman how VFDs and solar inverters are engineered and manufactured, and, specifically, how these Danfoss technologies directly impact both the local and national economies.
Congressman Kinzinger also serves on the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade, and Subcommittee on Energy and Power.
According to Jonathan Baer, head of U.S. solar inverters, Danfoss, “The solar photovoltaic market is strong and growing, while the cost to install utility-scale PV systems is rapidly declining. This is a great opportunity for the country to expand its use of renewable energy.”
“For the economy, this means the job market also is growing. In fact, from 2010 to 2012, the solar PV job market in the United States grew almost 30 percent. These are strong, sustainable jobs – and Danfoss is investing in these technologies right here in Illinois.”
Globally, Danfoss employs approximately 23,000 people, and, in 2012, had net sales of $6 billion.