SCHOTT Solar opens in Albuquerque

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - The sunny skies on Monday were the perfect backdrop for the opening of SCHOTT Solar's new solar power manufacturing plant at Mesa del Sol in southern Albuquerque.

SCHOTT Solar has created 350 jobs so far, and more than 1500 may be created over the next several years as the company expands.

The Albuquerque site will be responsible for making solar photovoltaic modules and receiver units for solar thermal power plants.

SCHOTT officials said it’s the first in the world to produce that type of solar technology.

SCHOTT officials said Albuquerque is a perfect location for the 200,000-square-foot plant.

“It’s strategically located in a very sunny part of the world, that was very important,” said Mac Moore, executive vice president of sales and marketing for SCHOTT Solar. “I think that the state, the city, and the county were all interested in attracting the renewable energy industry to the city. And finally I think it's the people, we've been able to attract highly qualified people and that's worked out very well for us.”

Schott’s initial investment in the new plant put about $100 million into the Albuquerque area.

Officials said SCHOTT plans to buy products from New Mexico businesses.

Schott was started in 1884 in Germany. Its first U.S. manufacturing plant was opened in Pennsylvania in 1969.