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First Solar Expands
US - First Solar, Inc held the official groundbreaking ceremony for the expansion of its Perrysburg, Ohio facility this week.The expansion will increase the annual capacity at the Perrysburg plant to approximately 192 megawatts, based on run rates for the second quarter of 2008.
The new investment will add at least 134 new jobs to the company's current workforce of 700 at Perrysburg.
The expansion will add approximately 500,000 square feet of manufacturing, research and development and office space. The company will also construct a separate facility to support increased development activities associated with its advanced thin film solar module manufacturing technology.
First Solar President Bruce Sohn officiated over the groundbreaking celebration, which was attended by Ohio Governor Ted Strickland, US Senators George Voinovich and Sherrod Brown, as well as a number of guests representing state and local government.
First Solar has collaborated with the State of Ohio and local leaders on a comprehensive incentive package for these two projects. Today's groundbreaking puts First Solar on track to complete plant construction by the first half of 2009, with full volume production expected by the second quarter of 2010.
"First Solar is excited to move forward with this expansion. Our growing capacity allows us to continue reducing the cost of solar electricity to a level competitive with conventional sources," said Mr. Sohn.
"The associates at our Ohio manufacturing plant are making a singular contribution to energy supply and a cleaner, healthier environment."
"Advanced energy can not only power our homes, it can power our economy," Gov. Strickland said.
"And this new First Solar investment is one more big piece of evidence that advanced energy has a home in Ohio."
In the Southern California deserts First Solar is seeking permission to build photovoltaic panels on 200 acres of private land about one and a half miles south of Blythe Airport.
Riverside County officials have scheduled a hearing tomorrow (Thursday) on the proposal and said they want assurances that glare from the solar panels won't pose a safety hazard for pilots using the airport, according to a report on the Press Enterprise.
The company hopes to be producing 7.5 megawatts of electricity before the end of 2009 and might later expand production to 21 megawatts.
TheBioenergySite News Desk
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