Solar Cell Facilities in Oregon

In October 2008, the largest solar cell facility in North America was opened in Hillsboro, Oregon.  SolarWorld USA now has a plant that will generate 500 megawatts of energy per year by 2011.

More than $500 million have been invested to allow for cell manufacturing equipment and crystal growing.  These efforts can be attributed in large part to Governor Ted Kulongoski, the Oregon Department of Energy and the city of Hillsboro.

As its COO stated:

“The Pacific Northwest possesses a hotbed of talent in both silicon manufacturing and clean technologies.  Oregon is the obvious choice for where the undertake this new level of solar cell manufacturing.”

To give you some perspective, 500 Mw is enough to power 150,000 homes (about 300,000 residents).  My hometown of Bend, OR has a population of about 80,000, so this one facility alone could provide clean, renewable energy to about twice the size of my community.

Shell Solar was recently acquired by SolarWorld.  Before then, it manufactured crystalline PV modules.  But now, SolarWorld is exclusively dedicated to solar energy.  For a better idea of the global solar efforts of SolarWorld, check out this video:

With the opening of the largest solar cell facility, SolarWorld will create more new high-tech jobs and more photovoltaic power for a number of countries located in North America and beyond.  Oregon is truly leading the way in solar production.

Perhaps SolarWorld will be expanding to your neck of the woods.  What is your community doing to encourage PV power for future generations?