Solexant Chooses Gresham for New Solar Manufacturing Plant
On Monday, July 19, 2010, the Portland Tribune reported that Solexant, a San Jose, California-based company that develops and manufactures thin film solar cells, will build the world’s largest solar nanotechnology manufacturing plant in Gresham, Oregon. To start Solexant will be employing about 170 local workers. Over time that number is expected to grow to 1,000 employees. Solexant’s move to the Portland is just one of many solar technology companies over recent years.
Currently, the largest manufacturer of solar electric techonology in the U.S., SolarWorld, is located in Hillsboro, Oregon. Among other manufacturers, Sapa Extrustions and Solaicx, is the multi-national company Sanyo Energy Corporation. The manufacturing facilities are scattered between Hillsboro, North Portland, NE Portland, East County/Gresham/Wood Village and Vancouver, Washington. Additionally Bend and Albany also boast solar manufacturing companies of their own. Between these manufacturers, a handful of development companies as well as countless professional installers and consultants, Portland has become a major player in the U.S. solar industry.
It makes sense in a way, that one of the most environmentally conscious cities in the U.S. would attract companies with an environmentally-friendly business but I also find it kind of ironic that a place known for being so overcast would become the epicenter for technology based on sunlight! Contrary to logic or not I believe it would be fantastic for the Portland area to establish itself as a hotbed for the development and manufacturing of these technologies. Not only would it provide additional economic stability but it is a business model that compliments Portland’s sensibilities.
