Politics & Government
Top Government Leaders Headed to New Solar Manufacturing Plant Tuesday
Top government leaders to attend dedication of a new solar panel manufacturing plant, a partnership between SunPower and Flextronics.
With Earth Day just around the corner, the message of renewable energy is being heard locally with the dedication of a solar panel manufacturing plant Tuesday in Milpitas.
U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu will attend the event with Gov. Jerry Brown at the Flextronics headquarters in Milpitas.
As part of the event, the governor plans to sign into state law recent legislation requiring utility companies to increase their use of renewable sources, and set a target of one-third by the end of 2020. The current target is 20 percent.
Find out what's happening in Milpitaswith free, real-time updates from Patch.
The plan to build the solar panel manufacturing plant in Milpitas by partners SunPower and Flextronics was announced on Earth Day last year with company executives, city officials and then-Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
SunPower is in position to receive millions in state and federal assistance for its first domestic manufacturing plant, including up to $24 million from a program through the U.S. Department of Energy. The plant is expected to create about 100 local "clean-tech" jobs.
Find out what's happening in Milpitaswith free, real-time updates from Patch.
According to Milpitas Economic Development Manager Diana Barnhart, SunPower is also in the process of receiving a $1.5 million no-interest loan from the city to use for equipment in its manufacturing assembly line.
In addition, Flextronics is in the process of receiving a separate $1 million loan from the city for tenant improvements, or "fit-up" costs, said Barnhart.
The building, according to an article by the Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal last year, is 53,600 square feet. About 42,000 square feet is for manufacturing, and the remainder is for office space.
