http://www.examiner.com/government-in-columbus/spanish-solar-jobs-to-shine-ohioTwo-thirds of Buckeye days are generally overcast, but notwithstanding this chronically gloomy condition, it appears lots of Spanish sun will shine on northwest Ohio, where a photovoltaic manufacturing facility is expected to generate hundreds of jobs in the short term and maybe a thousand or more over time.
Isofoton, a leading solar energy technology company, chose the small town of Napoleon as the new home for its North American manufacturing facility, according to news Wednesday from the Ohio Department of Development, which is making it possible with $15.8 million in taxpayer assistance that triggers a pledged of $16.4 million from the company.
Ohio, under former Gov. Ted Strickland, made solar energy an industry cluster sector the state has embraced, although not as much as others states have. James A. Leftwich, a former development official from Dayton who Gov. John Kasich appointed to run the development department after his chosen appointee, Mark Kvamme, ran into constitutional residency problems, said the statewide collaboration demonstrates Ohio’s focus on the strengths of the region and its targeted industries. In prepared remarks, Leftwich said, “Making Ohio the base for Isofoton’s first U.S. footprint, strengthens our state’s manufacturing supply chain, and creates jobs statewide.”
The Isofoton-Napoleon factory will initially consist of a 50 MW crystalline silicon PV module assembly line with fully automated REIS technology, a report from ODOD said, adding that Isofoton expects a short-term ramp-up to a 100 MW assembly line, with plans then to add a 100 MW cell line. The factory will start off creating 121 clean energy manufacturing jobs and ramp up to 330 direct jobs within three operational years. Indirect job creation, a vital part of the Isofoton’s “all-Ohio” economic development strategy should amount to 1,000 additional jobs beginning in 2012.
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