Solar Company Selects Calif. Site for Manufacturing Facility, Headquarters

Solar Power, which also has a manufacturing plant in China, expects the facility in California to double its annual production capacity to 100 megawatts.

The proposed 100,000-square-foot manufacturing facility will bring approximately 120 new construction jobs to the region during the nine-month construction period and 100 full-time skilled workers and office staff to the facility upon completion, according to the company.

Solar Power has received an initial commitment of $24.7 million in Recovery Zone Facility Bonds from Sacramento County and plans to use the proceeds from the sale of the bonds to help finance renovation and outfitting of the manufacturing facility. A portion of the bond proceeds, upon successful placement, also will go in part toward the development of a utility-scale photovoltaic solar system in Sacramento County that will exceed 10 megawatts and have an estimated value of $50 million, according to the company.

Solar Power anticipates receiving the bond proceeds and beginning construction on the new headquarters and manufacturing facility in July. The company expects to finish construction in early 2011.