CHINA SOLAR PANEL MAKER TO BUILD IN U.S.

China's Suntech to set up U.S. factory
Nichola Groom (w/Bernard Orr), May 11, 2009 (Reuters)

"Chinese solar panel maker Suntech Power Holdings Co Ltd…plans to establish a manufacturing facility in the United States, though it has yet to choose a location.

"The company said it is exploring opportunities in several states as it seeks to expand its presence in the U.S. solar market. It plans to make a decision on the location in the next six months."

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"Suntech Chief Executive Zhenrong Shi said in a statement that strong growth in solar demand from U.S. utilities and federal incentives for solar power had helped lead to the company's decision to set up a U.S. production plant.

"With [the] announcement, Suntech joins a growing list of overseas renewable energy companies who are setting up production plants in the United States.

"…Germany's Schott Solar unveiled a plant in New Mexico that will produce both solar thermal and photovoltaic solar components…[and] German conglomerate Siemens AG said it would build a wind turbine equipment factory in Kansas, its second U.S. wind turbine facility."