Amonix celebrates milestone at Southern Nevada manufacturing facility

NORTH LAS VEGAS, USA: Amonix Inc., the leading designer and manufacturer of concentrated photovoltaic (CPV) solar power systems, celebrated the completion of the manufacturing ramp-up of its 214,000 square foot manufacturing facility on North Pecos Road in North Las Vegas, with Nevada state and local officials and the Company’s manufacturing services partner – recognized clean tech solutions provider Flextronics (NASDAQ: FLEX).

The facility manufactures Amonix CPV solar power systems and now employs over 300 local residents in management, technical and production jobs. The Amonix systems manufactured at the facility are made in part with electricity generated by an Amonix 7700 system.

The ribbon cutting ceremony was presided over by Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval and other local officials.

“This is exactly the kind of project we’ve envisioned to get Nevada to its goal of generating 25 percent of its power from renewable sources and efficiency improvements by 2025,” said Governor Sandoval. “The facility’s construction and operation have created renewable energy jobs. As a stable, clean source of energy, it will support broad economic growth that walks lightly on the environment.”

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said: “Nevada is fortunate to have such abundant natural resources like solar, wind and geothermal energy. The opening of this state-of-the-art plant proves that we can and should be manufacturing the tools to harvest that energy right here in Nevada in order to create good-paying jobs. Amonix has chosen to open this plant in Nevada thanks in part to the tax credits included in the Economic Recovery Act. These are the policies we must continue pursuing as we work together to ensure Nevada leads the nation in clean energy jobs.”

“Nevada’s future is in clean energy, and this facility demonstrates how we can create jobs and expand the availability of solar energy materials at the same time,” said Congresswoman Shelley Berkley. “America’s energy security depends on our ability to harness the sun and other renewable resources to power homes and businesses nationwide, and Amonix and its workforce are doing their part to help us meet this critical challenge. I am pleased to have supported federal funding for this new manufacturing facility that is contributing to our local economy and providing good local jobs, while also serving as a shining example of how solar and other clean energy technologies are not only good for the environment, but good for business.”

"We at the City of North Las Vegas are thrilled Amonix is off to such a strong start," said North Las Vegas Mayor Shari Buck. "They have exceeded our expectations for job creation, strengthening our belief that clean-energy jobs are key to a prosperous and sustainable future."

“We’ve partnered with Amonix for a number of years already, and we are very pleased that they selected Nevada for one of their major solar equipment manufacturing plants,” said Tom Fair, NV Energy’s vice president of renewable energy. “Thanks to good business partners like Amonix, our state has one of the highest per capita uses of solar energy in the nation, and our portfolio of solar resources now totals nearly 300 megawatts of approved projects.”

In addition to bringing private sector clean energy jobs to Southern Nevada, the facility will bring $560 million of overall economic impact to Southern Nevada in the next five years, according to the Nevada Development Authority. The nearly $18-million project was financed with a $5.9 million investment tax credit from the Recovery Act awarded to Amonix in 2010 and another $12 million in private capital.

“We are pleased to be celebrating a milestone today at our North Las Vegas facility. We committed to creating 278 green jobs, and I am proud to say that today, over 300 Nevadans are back to work making the world’s most efficient solar systems right here in Nevada!” said Brian Robertson, CEO of Amonix. “We would not be here today without the efforts of elected officials, including Mayor Buck, and organizations like the Nevada Development Authority who championed this project both for the employment and economic benefits it brings to area residents, and the statement it makes about Nevada’s commitment to renewable energy. We are thrilled to be up and running in the City of the North Las Vegas.”