The time and place for Suntech Power’s (STP) first US solar panel manufacturing plant are now official. The company announced today from the AZ4Solar Symposium that the plant will open up in Goodyear, Arizona around September of this year with an initial capacity of 30MW, but expandable to 120MW to meet growing demand if necessary. The plant will employ more than 70 local residents and showcase the company’s latest and greatest solar manufacturing technology. Arizona was chosen because of its progressive solar policies for both utility scale and rooftop installation, the supportive business climate and availability of local manufacturing ready facilities. Suntech is the first China based solar company to set up operations in the US.
Suntech Chief Strategy Officer Steven Chan commented, saying, “With our Goodyear facility, we have the opportunity to design a truly innovative module manufacturing center that can accelerate innovation, allowing us to deploy new products designed to meet the burgeoning U.S. solar market. Having a facility here in the US will also reduce the time, costs and greenhouse gas emissions associated with shipping panels from overseas.”
It’s not helping the stock any today. It’s down yet again following a two week plunge.