News Release
For Immediate Release
Contact: Jason Lott, 505-244-8480; Melanie J. Majors, APR, 505-266-5637

MESA DEL SOL OFFICIALS ATTEND DEDICATION OF NEW SCHOTT SOLAR MANUFACTURING PLANT

Albuquerque, NM – May 11, 2009 – Mesa del Sol representatives, and national and state leaders joined SCHOTT Solar senior officials on Monday at a dedication ceremony for the company’s new solar manufacturing plant at Mesa del Sol.

“Today’s dedication ceremony is solid proof that Mesa del Sol’s goals are attainable, even in a difficult economic cycle,” said Mesa del Sol President Michael Daly after he joined Gov. Bill Richardson and other dignitaries in signing the first photovoltaic panel produced at the new factory.  

“It’s been a just more than a year since SCHOTT made its announcement in Santa Fe that the company would build at Mesa del Sol. Since that time SCHOTT has invested more than $100 million in the local economy with the construction of the plant,” he said adding, “Company officials say they want to quadruple its size and work force over the long term with additional investments of up to $400 million. This is concrete validation of our vision of a sustainable community.”

Daly said the SCHOTT facility is the first plant in the world capable of producing both photovoltaic panels for homes and businesses and solar thermal receiver tubes for large-scale solar power plants. He said the company’s 200,000 square foot manufacturing facility on 80 acres at Innovation Park, has resulted in 350 jobs with as many as 1,500 jobs when all phases of the plant are complete. SCHOTT is the second solar manufacturer to join the Mesa del Sol renewable energy cluster, which includes Advent Solar.

Udo Ungeheuer, chairman of the board of management for German-based Schott AG, told the crowd gathered at the dedication that he expects the U.S. to become a “solar superpower” with the help of companies like Schott and policies that encourage the use of a domestic renewable resource that's not subject to the same price fluctuations as fossil fuels.

“At Schott Solar, we view the United States as a sleeping giant when it comes to solar energy,” he said, explaining that enough of the sun's rays hit the nation every day to meet the world's energy demands for an entire year,” said Ungeheuer.

Gov. Bill Richardson said the investment bodes well for New Mexico's efforts to attract other companies, particularly those involved in the advancement of renewable energy.

“This is not just another opening of a business coming to New Mexico,” the governor said. “This is probably the highlight of our efforts to attract new visions and clean energy to our state.”

New Mexico Congressional Representatives Martin Heinrich and Ben Ray Lujan were among those at the ceremony with Heinrich saying, “Today is symbolic of New Mexico’s growing appetite for innovative economic development. I welcome SCHOTT Solar to the First Congressional District. Its presence illustrates the potential we have to create clean energy jobs right here in Albuquerque and to lead the way nationally in alternative energy.”

House Speaker Ben Lujan, D-Santa Fe, also spoke at the ceremony and later watched as workers packed solar panels for shipping. He called the high-tech process amazing, saying the state's work to offer incentives to companies like Schott is beginning to pay off.

“This is a dream that we have had, to make New Mexico a leader in renewable energy. For it to become a reality is really satisfying,” said Lujan.

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