Recent Statesman Journal article: City aims to become hub in green jobs Attracting Sanyo's solar-cell plant may be first step to goal
Sanyo's coming to Salem is a great step to a better future. They will build an $80 million solar-cell manufacturing plant at the new Salem Renewable Energy and Technology Park at 5475 Gaffin Road SE. Two hundred "green jobs" producing high tech components for renewable energy--it reflects the growing recognition that we need to be more responsible in our stewardship of the environment, our community and economy.
Pringle Creek Community is excited about this successful recruitment and that Salem, and Oregon, aspire to foster green products and services. This is Oregon taking advantage of its environmentalist brand and becoming a center for green manufacturing. As PV Tech online magazine puts it, More Trees Planted in Oregon's Solar Forest:
The news that Sanyo plans to build a silicon ingot and wafer manufacturing facility in Salem, OR, is the latest solar win for the northwest U.S. state, which has become one of the country's major photovoltaic manufacturing areas. Published reports suggest that several companies are looking hard at Oregon for their planned facilities, as the state continues its quest for renewable-energy industrial development.This article goes on to talk about Solaicx (Portland) and Peak Sun Silicon (Salem) making next-generation polysilicon, Solar World (Hillsboro and Vancouver) and now Sanyo fabricating ingots and wafers, Solar World and Intel spinout SpectraWatt (Hillsboro) building or ramping solar-cell production plants, and thin-film PV start-up XsunX (Portland).
