From 60MW toward 200MW - Way to Go

Calisolar yesterday marked the opening of its new manufacturing facility in Sunnyvale, California with a ribbon cutting ceremony attended by California Governor Schwarzenegger and local officials. Also on hand to commemorate this expansion was Applied Materials VP of Crystalline Silicon Products Ken MacWilliams.   

Following the ceremony, I spoke with MacWilliams to learn more about Calisolar.  Calisolar is a vertically integrated company that began producing low-cost, high-quality upgraded metallurgical-grade silicon (UMG) for high-efficiency solar cells in the U.S. last October and is now shipping globally.  Supporting its growth strategy, Calisolar used a clean energy manufacturing tax credit of $51.6 million, part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, to accelerate completion of its facility. 

Calisolar’s expansion plans will increase its manufacturing capacity from 60 megawatts (MW) to over 200MW — great news for solar cell manufacturing and green jobs in California. The company plans to increase its workforce from 150 to 250. And, in his opening remarks, Governor Schwarzenegger used the venue to tout new SB 71 legislation that exempts sales taxes on green manufacturing equipment.  This tax exemption boosts prospects for in-state solar manufacturing.  Signed into law on March 24, SB 71 is one element of the governor's California Jobs Initiative aimed at retaining and creating at least 100,000 jobs in the state.

This new factory brings increased capability to the sunshine state, one that we anticipate will enable it and other regions to effectively capture energy from the Sun for many years to come. A local company makes good.