Solar energy giant coming to Pennsylvania WPSU (WPSU) - Governor Ed Rendell announced on Thursday that the world's largest solar power development and investment firm will establish a presence in Pennsylvania. Two subsidiaries of Conergy AG, based in Germany, will set up offices somewhere in the state.

One of the firms, a financial division known as Voltwerk, will locate its North American headquarters in Pennsylvania. Another arm of Conergy, an engineering firm known as SunTechnics, will establish its East Coast hub here.

Governor Rendell told reporters that the investment in Pennsylvania will provide an economic boost. "Fifty new jobs in engineering, financing and management -- but that's only the tip of the iceberg," the governor said. "We believe over the next three years, having them here will generate over $100 million for new renewable technology deals in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania and in the East Coast."

And, when talking about how the state's agriculture interests could benefit from solar technology, Rendell said, "I would like to see the day, not very far off, that every farmhouse and every barn in Pennsylvania has installed a solar panel. We believe that could, in a short period of time, zero out the farmers' cost for energy."

Governor Rendell said the commonwealth and the nation must put more of an emphasis on finding new ways to produce energy. © Copyright 2012, WPSU