The Economy

Solar Company Selects Calif. Site for Manufacturing Facility, Headquarters

March 29, 2010

Solar Power Inc., a Roseville, Calif.-based manufacturer of photovoltaic solar systems, has selected the McClellan Business Park in McClellan, Calif., as the site for its U.S. manufacturing facility and world headquarters.

Josh Cable

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.

About the Author

Josh Cable | Former Senior Editor

Former Senior Editor Josh Cable covered innovation issues -- including trends and best practices in R&D, process improvement and product development. He also reported on the best practices of the most successful companies and executives in the world of transportation manufacturing, which encompasses the aerospace, automotive, rail and shipbuilding sectors.

Josh also led the IndustryWeek Manufacturing Hall of Fame, IW’s annual tribute to the most influential executives and thought leaders in U.S. manufacturing history.

Before joining IndustryWeek, Josh was the editor-in-chief of Penton Media’s Government Product News and Government Procurement. He also was an award-winning beat reporter for several small newspapers in Northeast Ohio.

Josh received his BFA in creative writing from Bowling Green University, and continued his professional development through course-work at Ohio University and Cuyahoga Community College.

A lifelong resident of the Buckeye State, Josh currently lives in the Tremont neighborhood of Cleveland. When the weather cooperates, you’ll find him riding his bike to work, exercising his green thumb in the backyard or playing ultimate Frisbee.