General Electric was urged today by Colorado political leaders and public research institutions to build a new solar panel manufacturing plant in Colorado – a facility that would employ 400 people.
GE announced plans to build the plant somewhere in the United States after announcing that PrimeStar Solar Inc., an Arvada thin film technology company, had produced a record-setting panel produced on PrimeStar’s 30-megawatt manufacturing line in Arvada.
GE said that it plans to produce the panel at a factory that, at capacity, will produce enough panels per year to power 80,000 homes annually. The 400-megawatt facility will be larger than any U.S. solar panel manufacturing plant in operation today.
Locations in 10 states are currently being scouted by GE for the plant.
GE held a majority equity stake in Arvada-based PrimeStar since 2008 and completed acquisition of the company last week.
In the letter to GE’s vice president of renewables, the Colorado leaders – including Gov. John Hickenlooper – touted the state’s leadership in clean energy research, innovation and manufacturing as reasons to build the plant in Colorado.
“As you know, we are already home to several innovative solar companies…including the company GE recently acquired, PrimeStar Solar,” the letter said. “Colorado is no stranger to other types of renewable manufacturing, either. Vestas Wind is reaping benefits of the investments it has made in Colorado.”
The letter said that “GE would find a fruitful partnership with the State of Colorado…We stand ready to provide any additional help to attract this facility to Colorado. In particular, we would respectfully alert you to Gov. Hickenlooper’s Office of Economic Development and International Trade.”
The letter was sent to Vic Abate, GE’s vice president of renewables.
Howard Pankratz: 303-954-1939 or hpankratz@denverpost.com.
