In April, the EPA had announced a proposed finding, stating that the six main GHGs endanger public health and welfare. (For more discussion of that announcement and the formulation of U.S. climate policy, see my post here.) After a period of public comment and review, the proposed “endangerment finding,” as it has come to be known, was today adopted by the EPA. The finding paves the way for the agency to regulate GHG emissions, an outcome many observers believe to be less preferable than a cap-and-trade approach developed by Congress.

In her announcement, the agency’s Administrator, Lisa Jackson, noted: “These long overdue findings cement 2009′s place in history as the year when the U.S. government began addressing the challenge of greenhouse-gas pollution and seizing the opportunity of clean-energy reform.”

Meanwhile, Barclays Capital analyst Vishal Shah raised his ratings on JA Solar Holdings (JASO), SunPower Corporation (SPWRA) and Suntech Power Holdings (STP). Shah cited future demand in Germany, Italy, the U.S., china and Canada could drive sector growth — to as many as 9.3 gigawatts (gWs) in 2010, versus previous expectations of 7.3 gW for the same time period.

a

In recent months, the company has been criticized for pricing panels in the U.S. below marginal cost, allegedly dumping imported product in the U.S. market. Moreover, like other foreign producers, SunTech’s panels would be affected by a proposed import tariff hike, which was announced at the beginning of October. Add in growing concern over American jobs, and it’s no wonder why SunTech is moving some of its manufacturing operations to the U.S. That the company was considering a U.S.-based facility had been known for some time; what wasn’t known until the announcement was the location. As relayed by The Street:

“This is the first step in what I see as a long-term, strategic investment in the North American market,” said Suntech’s Chairman and CEO Dr. Zhengrong Shi. “Over the last two years we have grown our U.S. team to over 60 employees. As a result of that effort, we have developed a network of over 200 solar dealers and integrators installing Suntech products and are actively involved with a number of large-scale solar project developers serving the utility market. We also have developed strong partnerships with U.S. companies such as MEMC of Pasadena, Texas, our largest supplier of silicon wafers used in our modules. The leadership shown by the U.S. government in advancing renewable energy will only improve the environment for further investments in the coming years.”

Meanwhile, back home, SunTech announced that it expects to develop 20 percent of the 91 megawatts of solar projects that have been mandated under China’s solar rooftop program. SunTech (STP) ADR stock was up nearly 13 percent in late afternoon trading.

a