By Brent Ruffner | Phoenix Independent
Solar power just got a little bit brighter in the Valley of the Sun.
On Jan. 10, JA Solar announced it leased space in the West Valley for its first manufacturing facility in the U.S. — signaling significant industry growth could be on the horizon.
The new center — at 1777 S. 99th Ave., Phoenix — is expected to be operational in less than a calendar year and create more than 600 jobs, according to the Arizona Commerce Authority.
The center will produce high-performance photovoltaic products.
“The JA announcement is noteworthy,” said John Mitman, board president at AriSEIA, the Arizona solar trade association. “…JA Solar is a Bloomberg Tier 1 module manufacturer based in China. (The company) is a top-10 global supplier. They manufacture modules for all market segments — residential, commercial and utility scale. It’s significant because (the company is) one of several global leaders to formally announce (its) U.S. expansion following the passage of the (Federal Inflation Reduction Act).”
