Hoku Scientific CEO Dustin Shindo told the HonoluluAdvertiser.com that the company expects to have part of its Pocatello, Idaho plant up and running by the end of this year.  At full speed, the $390 million plant will employ approximately 200 workers to produce 4,000 metric tons of silicon per year.

The plant should have power by June or July, according to Shindo, who stated "One of the reasons we selected Pocatello and the state of Idaho is access to reasonably priced, stable power. So the upcoming connection of that power to our property is a meaningful milestone."