HIGHLAND - Prism Solar Technologies will receive $3.6 million in federal funding for them to create a spin-off company focused on developing a new form of photovoltaic technology here in the Hudson Valley.  

Prism Solar Technologies, in Highland, is a manufacturing partner of The Solar Energy Consortium and their spin-off company is expected to create around 300 jobs over the next three years as they manufacture and bring to market a flexible solar ribbon cell.

In announcing the grant Tuesday, Congressman Maurice Hinchey said his effort is aimed at growing the area economy. “Most importantly, most critically at this stage to upgrade the quality of the economic circumstances here in the Hudson Valley; to promote new industry and generate new jobs,” he said.

Hinchey said the US Defense Department is focusing on this type of technology, “realizing how important it is to have the ability to generate new energy without the dependence on oil or other forms of fossil fuels.”

The Democratic lawmaker said that “a very substantial amount of money” will be available in the future to successful developers of those new technologies and that operations such as TSEC put New York State in a solid position to receive increased federal investments.

“This technology is quite unique,” said CEO of Prism Solar Technologies Richard Lewandowski as he explained that their new product has a high efficiency, light weight, a lot less waste than standard silicon cell manufacturing, and key characteristics that other solar cells do not have. The main differentiating characteristic of the ribbon cell is its overall flexibility that allows it to conform to countless applications.  

Lewandowski said that these solar cells are “dual use,” meaning they can be applied for both military and commercial applications from being fitted to the hood of a car to being substituted for certain construction materials used on the external face of buildings.