Signet Solar Tuesday announced plans to build the company’s first North American solar panel production facility in Belen, New Mexico. The first phase of the plant will bring 200 high-wage solar jobs to the state and is scheduled to begin operations in 2010. Signet’s long-term plans call for expansion and the creation of a total of 600 jobs, the company said in a release.
The Signet facility will produce large area thin-film silicon photovoltaic modules for commercial rooftop and ground-mounted solar power systems. The first phase of the plant will have an annual production capacity of 65 megawatts (MW)–enough to power approximately 20,000 homes. Long-term plans call to increase production capacity to 300 MW per year with a 600,000-square-foot production facility.
“New Mexico was an obvious starting point for Signet Solar’s expansion into the growing US renewable energy market,” said Rajeeva Lahri, Signet Solar’s Co-Founder and CEO. “Under Governor Richardson’s leadership, New Mexico has demonstrated commitment to renewable energy through public-private partnerships, leveraging its skilled workforce and world class research institutions.”
The 75-acre facility is situated 30 minutes south of Albuquerque on Rancho Cielo, a Coast Range Investments property in Belen. Signet will be the first company to set up manufacturing in the 6,000-acre Rancho Cielo master planned industrial and residential community. Rancho Cielo plans to use Signet panels on a 700 acre solar farm designed to meet the majority of power requirements of the Rancho Cielo community.
“Partnering with Signet Solar, we are excited about bringing such high quality renewable energy jobs to Belen and the possibility of creating a sustainable green city in New Mexico,” said Jim Foster, Managing Partner of Coast Range Investment.
Headquartered in Menlo Park, California, Signet produces large-area thin-film PV modules. Signet began shipping product to customers from its first plant near Dresden, Germany in October of this year.
Loading...