Customer LoginSolyndra proudly hosted a visit by United States President, Barack Obama on May 26, 2010 and demonstrated the company's innovative cylindrical photovoltaic (PV) systems for commercial rooftops and the advanced manufacturing process used to produce them. The President toured Solyndra's Fab 1 with Chief Executive Officer Chris Gronet and Executive Vice President Ben Bierman before making a televised speech on energy policy at Solyndra's Fab 2 construction site.
President Obama spoke of the "heartbreaking" oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico and the need for alternative energy. He talked of solar as an economic reality. Among his remarks, the President delivered the following words of encouragement to the employees and the solar industry.
"As you fill orders for solar panels to ship around the world, you're demonstrating that the promise of clean energy isn't just an article of faith -- not anymore. It's not some abstract possibility for science fiction movies or a distant future -- 10 years down the road or 20 years down the road. It's happening right now. The future is here."
California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger attended the speech, as did numerous local elected officials and guests of the White House. The additional crowd of approximately 450 included Solyndra employees and customers as well as union construction workers and executives from Rudolph and Sletten working on the Fab 2 project.