Solar company plans Albuquerque plant

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - A start-up company plans to employ hundreds to make solar panels at a new plant in Albuquerque, Gov. Bill Richardson announced Tuesday.

The governor made the announcement in Albuquerque where Solar Distinction, Inc., plans to build a photovoltaic manufacturing plant. The company is expected to employ 300 workers in its first two or three years and eventually grow to 500 employees.

Solar Distinction plans initially to manufacture 25-megawat panels and expand to 50MW panels within two years.

Gov. Richardson said, along with jobs, the plant could attract more companies to New Mexico.

"They are going to need distribution, transportation and I think this will be a magnet for more solar equipment and manufacturing across the board technical work that will be needed here," Richardson said.

In addition to manufacturing operations, the company will base its research and development of solar-power generation, storage and end-user applications for commercial, industrial and consumer industries in New Mexico.

Co-CEO of The Noribachi Group Farzad Dibachi said the manufacturing of solar technologies is best done in New Mexico.

"Instead of taking these products and manufacturing them in China, why not bring this manufacturing to the states," Dibachi said. "And why not in this great city of Albuquerque?"

The company is receiving a $500,000 job-creation grant from the state.