Chinese Solar Power Giant Building First U.S. Plant

www.costar.com
November 17, 2009

SunTech Power Holdings Co. Ltd., said last week that it is planning its first manufacturing plant in the United States. The solar energy energy giant has selected the Greater Phoenix region for the new facility.

With the announcement, SunTech becomes the first Chinese clean technology company to bring manufacturing jobs the United States. The company plans to employ 75 workers at the plant when production begins, slated for third quarter 2010. SunTech estimates that it could double that amount within a year, depending on market conditions. "Bringing manufacturing jobs to the U.S, is part of SunTech's vision to grow the solar market in every corner of the world," said Dr. Zhengrong Shi, chairman and CEO of SunTech.

SunTech selected Greater Phoenix, largely due to the research efforts of Arizona State University, as well as Arizona's renewable energy policies. The proposed 100,000-square-foot facility is designed to have an initial production capacity of 30 MWs (MW). With the U.S, solar market expected to expand in the coming years, the plant's capabilities would also grow.

Dan Kammen, professor in the energy and resources group at the University of California, called SunTech's expansion a "great sign of the increasingly important collaboration between Chinese and American leaders in the renewable energy industry." A specific location for the plant has yet to be named. SunTech expects to make its final decision in the next few weeks.