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Governor Bill Richardson Announces 350 New Jobs for Albuquerque

SCHOTT Solar to hire 1,500 for new $500 million manufacturing plant in first seven years

SANTA FE - Governor Bill Richardson today announced SCHOTT AG, of Germany, will build a solar products manufacturing plant at Mesa Del Sol, just south of Albuquerque.  The $500 million complex is expected to open in early 2009 and will create as many as 1,500 jobs at peak production.

SCHOTT will manufacture solar photovoltaic (PV) modules and receiver tubes for concentrated solar plants at the new facility, and will be one of the company’s largest operations in the United States.

“I am committed to making New Mexico a clean energy state,” said Governor Richardson.  “I am pleased SCHOTT is opening a factory and bringing more alternative clean energy development to the state.”

SCHOTT is one of the largest solar manufacturers in the world. The company operates in 41 countries with 16,800 employees worldwide. It has been in operation for more than 150 years.

“According to both industry analysts and our projections, the market for solar energy will double over the next five years,” said Dr. Udo Ungeheuer, Chairman of SCHOTT’s Board of Management. “With this new plant, SCHOTT Solar, the State of New Mexico, the City of Albuquerque, and Bernalillo County are taking a lead in answering the growing demand for renewable energy in the United States.”

Construction of the facility will begin in early 2008, with the plant expected to be operational in 2009, initially bringing approximately $100 million of foreign direct investment to New Mexico. This will result in 350 jobs by year one and a total of 700 jobs by year four.  Approximately 80 percent of the jobs will be production-based; the remaining 20 percent of jobs will be engineering and management positions.

“The future of New Mexico, the country and the world depends on clean alternative energy,” said Economic Development Department Cabinet Secretary Designate Fred Mondragón, “and our economy is going to be increasingly dependent on foreign direct investment. What we have with SCHOTT coming to New Mexico is the best of those two worlds.”

For more information visit http://www.us.schott.com/solar. 

Posted by Administrator at 11:24 AM