Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd. today announced the company’s first U.S. manufacturing plant will be located in the City of Goodyear, Arizona. The move makes Suntech the first clean-tech company to bring manufacturing employment to the United States.
The solar panel factory will employ over 70 local residents initially and will feature the company’s latest-generation solar electricity manufacturing technologies and equipment. Its location will also allow for more efficient collaboration with Arizona State University.
The plant will commence operations with a production capacity of 30 MW, but the company says it has the potential to expand to over 120 MW. Suntech says having a facility in the USA will accelerate innovation, allowing it to more rapidly deploy new products designed to meet the burgeoning U.S. solar market and will also reduce costs and greenhouse gas emissions associated with shipping its solar panels from overseas.
Suntech selected Goodyear from many possible locations based on the State of Arizona’s renewable energy friendly standards and solar policies for both utility-scale solar farms and rooftop solar power systems, the Greater Phoenix Area’s supportive business climate and the availability of local facilities ready for manufacturing to the scale Suntech requires.
The factory won’t just create Suntech solar panels, but utilise them to help provide power to its own facilities. Plans include the construction of solar parking structures on the site that will also provide shaded parking for company employees.
