News

29 October 2010

 

Amonix breaks ground on 150MW Las Vegas CPV system manufacturing plant

After signing the lease on the property in July, Amonix Inc, which makes concentrated photovoltaic (CPV) systems using III-V multi-junction cells at its headquarters in Seal Beach, CA, USA, has broken ground on its new 214,000 square foot manufacturing facility in North Las Vegas, NV in a ceremony presided over by US Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and attended by US Representative Shelley Berkley, Nevada State Senate Majority Leader Steven Horsford, and City of North Las Vegas Mayor Shari L. Buck.

The facility will bring 278 private sector jobs to Southern Nevada and, according to the Nevada Development Authority, will contribute $118m in payroll and $12m in taxes to the local economy in its first five years. “More workers skilled in renewable energy jobs make our state even more attractive for renewable energy businesses,” commented Horsford.

Amonix received a $5.8m American Recovery and Reinvestment Act competitive manufacturing tax credit (legislation championed by Reid and Berkley) to open the new facility. The firm has begun hiring area residents to fill management, technical and production jobs. Also, 135 local construction workers will build out the facility over the next few months.

In keeping with its commitment to produce sustainable energy in sustainable ways, the firm has installed an Amonix 7700 solar power system as part of the facility’s electrical power source. The firm has also registered the major tenant improvement underway at the facility for certification through the US Green Building Council’s LEED for Commercial Interiors (LEED CI) Rating System.

Amonix will use the facility to manufacture CPV solar power systems for installations in Nevada and for export to neighboring states. When at full capacity (operating 24 hours per day, seven days per week), the plant have annual production capacity of 150MW. The first line in the first phase of the facility will begin manufacturing by the end of Q1/2011.

“CPV solar is a key part of America’s energy portfolio because of its compelling bottom lines in sunny and dry climates like the desert Southwest,” says Amonix’s CEO Brian Robertson. “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,” he adds. “Just as the federal government has helped many infrastructure projects get going in the history of our nation, this facility was jump started by tax credits available through the Recovery Act.”

See related items:

Amonix appoints CFO and two new independent directors

Amonix raises $129.4m in Series B funding

Search: Amonix CPV Multi-junction cells

Visit: www.amonix.com

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