GE PLANS GIANT SUN PLANT

GE Plans to Build Largest US Solar Factory in Colorado, Expand Solar Innovation in New York and Deliver Lighter, Larger, More Efficient Thin Film Solar Panels
13 October 2011 (GE)

"GE (NYSE: GE)…plans to build its new solar panel factory in Aurora, Colorado. When completed, the advanced manufacturing facility will create 355 jobs in Colorado and will be larger than any existing solar panel factory in the country today.. with the first panels coming off the line in 2012 with commercial availability in 2013.

"…[T]he factory in an existing building in Aurora… also is in proximity to GE’s existing solar center of excellence…[enabling] an accelerated start-up schedule with production equipment installation beginning in January 2012. At capacity, the new factory will produce enough panels per year to power 80,000 homes and will be larger than 11 football fields. When complete, the new solar factory will highlight a $600 million investment in GE’s solar business."

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"Colorado already is home to GE Energy’s thin film solar pilot line, where joint technology advancements from GE’s Global Research Center and PrimeStar Solar have been validated and tested. GE completed the acquisition of PrimeStar earlier this year.

"…In support of its expected growth in the solar space, GE also announced plans to create 100 new positions in New York…Solar panels produced in GE’s new Colorado factory also will be more efficient, lighter weight and larger than conventional thin film panels…reducing the total cost of electricity for utilities and consumers…[facilitating] easier installation and enable important applications including commercial rooftop…[and lowering] total system cost by reducing the amount of racking and electrical components required…"