May 18, 2011
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Solar Power comes to North Portland
L ast w eek on M ay 13th,
Portland M ayor Sam Adams
and P o rtlan d D ev elo p m en t
C o m m is s io n C h a ir S c o tt
Andrews announced a plan for
developm ent o f a solar panel
m anufacturing headquarter in
North Portland that could bring
over 480 new jo b s to the Port
land area.
“I congratulate SoloPow er
on their decision to site their
new m anufacturing headquar
ters and production facility in
North Portland," said R epre
sentative Tina Kotek. “I w el
come them to the neighbor
hood.”
San Jose-based SoloPower
produces high powered and low
cost solar cell devices, which
offer a viable alternative to the
electricity produced using tradi
tional fossil fuels. SoloPower’s
thin-film panels weigh far less
than traditional glass covered
solar panels, and can be installed
directly on a roof.
"SoloPower's announcement
is great new s for O regon's
economy and clean energy fu
tu r e ,” C o n g re ssm a n E arl
Blumenauer said. “I am proud
that the new facility will be manu
facturing clean energy technol
ogy right here in Portland and
look forward building a strong
federal partnership to the com
pany and its employees."
Clean Technology is one of
the targeted clusters in Portland’s
2009 Economic Development
S tra te g y , e x p la in e d M ayor
Adams, who is excited about the
new green job opportunities that
could come with this new devel
opment.
T he p la n n e d S o lo P o w e r
manufacturing facility represents
a $340 million investment at full
build-out, and the company ex
pects to hire more than 150 work
ers in the next twelve months,
and at full build-out. An esti
mated 913 construction, indirect,
and induced jobs are also ex
pected to be created by the de
velopment of this manufacturing
facility.
‘‘The positions created by
SoloPower at the North Port
land facility will be permanent
jobs requiring skilled labor, and
offering high wages and ben
efits,” said Representative Tina
Kotek. “This is what we mean
when we talk about job creation
and economic growth.”
In addition to well-paying jobs,
the City and SoloPower are fi
nalizing a Community Benefits
A g re e m e n t th a t in c lu d e s
workforce training, Enterprise
Zone Community Contributions
and other benefits.
The company also plans to
w ork w ith P o rtla n d -b a se d
Worksystems, Inc. to train local
re sid e n ts to w ork in the
SoloPower facility.
After SoloPower and the City
of Portland signed a non-binding
memorandum of understanding
last week, Portland City Council
will vote on the City of Portland
deal package Wednesday, May
18th.
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