Tuesday October 27, 2009, 2:21 pm
"SMA Solar Technology AG of Germany expects to employ up to 300 people once production ramps up at its new facility in the Enterprise Park at Havana Street and Smith Road in the north Stapleton area.

Another 400 temporary workers could also be brought on to deal with spikes in demand, which are concentrated in the second half of the year.

"We see a huge market coming in the U.S.," said Pierre-Pascal Urbon, the company's chief financial officer.

Solar inverters convert the direct current created by solar panels into an alternating current accessible to the larger electrical

grid.

SMA's products, which include the Sunny Boy, Sunny Central and Sunny Island inverters, account for 40 percent of the market, Urbon said.

The company, based in Kassel, north of Frankfurt, boasts growing sales of about $1.2 billion a year.

The area's educated workforce; the site's proximity to I-70, rail and the airport; lower operating costs, and the area's focus on renewable energy research all were behind the decision to locate here, Urbon said.

Having a U.S.-based plant makes it easier to market and sell product in this country. A weaker U.S. dollar also makes it more attractive for European companies to locate production facilities in this country.

State and city economic development officials scrambled to beat out 20 other cities across six states under consideration.

"We are creating economic opportunity," said Gov. Bill Ritter at a press conference. He added that creating core manufacturing jobs will help Colorado escape the recession sooner.

The state will contribute about $2 million in economic incentives, with Denver providing a similar amount. The largest share of incentives are tied to worker training and for operating in an enterprise zone.

SMA plans to start production in the middle of next year. The average job it creates will pay in the range of $30,000 a year."

[at the site, there is a video]

Tuesday October 27, 2009, 2:39 pm
This is very big news here in my neighborhood. I hope it is a sign for the improvement of the economy world wide. Thanks, Janet.

Tuesday October 27, 2009, 2:50 pm
It SHOULD be big news.
Green technology AND 300 jobs~~WoW!

And in Denver, too. I just wish our local politicians could get their heads out of the oil 'spill' they've sunk their hopes and dreams on since it was found.

Namaste, Kelly~~and CONGRATULATIONS, Denver! [whoop, whoop!]

Tuesday October 27, 2009, 10:15 pm

Thanks Janet!!!
I'm an Electrician... I want a Job, and Solar... Woohoo!!!

HUGZ ~ Electra

Wednesday October 28, 2009, 5:53 am
Great news... lets hope that this will have a rebound affect.. and many more companies will come in and invest