The company has said it will use the facility to manufacture concentrated photovoltaics (CPV) solar power systems for installations in Nevada and for export to neighboring states. It added that at full capacity, the manufacturing plant will operate 24 hours per day, seven days per week, turning out solar equipment with a production capacity of 150 megawatts annually.
If all goes to plan, the first line in the first phase of the facility should begin manufacturing by the end of the first quarter of next year.
The facility is expected to bring 278 green private sector clean energy jobs to Southern Nevada and, according to the Nevada Development Authority, will contribute USD$118 million in payroll and USD$12 million in taxes to the local economy in its first five years.
Amonix received a USD$5.8 million American Recovery and Reinvestment Act competitive manufacturing tax credit, legislation Senator Reid and Congresswoman Berkley championed, to open the new facility. The company said that it has begun hiring area residents to fill management, technical and production jobs, and that 135 local construction workers will build out the facility over the next few months.
It has additionally installed an Amonix 7700 solar power system as part of the facilitys electrical power source.
CPV solar is a key part of Americas energy portfolio because of its compelling bottom lines in sunny and dry climates like the desert Southwest, said Brian Robertson, Amonix CEO. These include the highest efficiency of any solar technology, cost at grid parity and the fact that CPV uses no water in the production of energy.
The groundbreaking ceremony was presided over by U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and attended by dignitaries including U.S. Representative Shelley Berkley, Nevada State Senate Majority Leader Steven Horsford, and City of North Las Vegas Mayor Shari L. Buck.
U.S. Senate Majority Leader Reid commented: There is simply nowhere better in the world to generate solar energy than right here in Nevada, and by next summer hundreds of Nevadans will be making solar modules right here in this building. Thats why I made sure the Recovery Act included almost $6 million in tax credits to help Amonix open this facility. Renewable energy is going to renew Nevada, one job at a time, one company at a time. And it starts right here, with good companies like Amonix.
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