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Licking County’s newest manufacturer aims to meet the nation’s growing demand for green energy solutions while bringing 1,000 jobs to central Ohio.
Illuminate USA began production at its 1.1 million square foot factory in Pataskala, with the first solar panels rolling off the line Thursday, the company announced in a news release. The factory will be one of the largest state-of-the-art solar panel manufacturing facilities in the country.
Illuminate USA plans to manufacture more than 9.2 million utility-scale solar panels per year at full capacity by the end of 2024. This equates to 5 gigawatts of electricity generation, enough to power one million homes. One gigawatt equals one billion watts.
“Today marks the beginning of a new era for Ohio’s advanced manufacturing in one of the world’s most in-demand sectors: renewable energy,” said Frank Chu, CEO of Illuminate USA. “The high-quality American-made solar panels rolling off our production line in Pataskala are a testament to our talented team and their commitment to meeting America’s growing clean energy needs.”
As previously reported, Illuminate USA’s total investment in Licking County will exceed $600 million, including equipment, raw materials, staff training and salaries, and all other costs necessary to form the new company. It is expected.
Illuminate USA was announced last March and is the first company within the 350-acre Red Chip Farm developed as part of the Pataskala Corporate Park. The new company is a joint venture between Chicago-based renewable energy company Invenergy and Chinese solar panel manufacturer LONGi.
Invenergy, which is developing several solar power projects in Ohio, is a major customer of Illuminate USA.
The plant’s opening comes amid a surge in construction of solar power plants in Ohio and elsewhere.
There are approximately 50 projects in the state that are operational, under construction, or in other stages of development. Additional projects are awaiting state approval.
According to the Energy Information Administration, all regions of the United States are likely to see an increase in electricity generation from renewable energy in 2024, with solar power generation expected to increase by 43% this year.
Renewable energy is expected to produce 24% of the country’s electricity this year and 26% by 2025.
Jim Murphy, President and Corporate Business Leader of Invenergy and Chairman of the Board of Illuminate USA, said the roll-off of American-made solar panels at the Pataskala plant is an important milestone for advanced manufacturing in the United States. said.
“As demand for solar energy continues to grow in the United States, Illuminate’s Ohio employees are strengthening the domestic supply chain by producing highly efficient, American-made panels for projects across the country,” he said. . “Invenergy continues to lead the industry, and Illuminate USA is the latest example of the great capabilities of our team and the bold vision needed to advance our nation’s transition to clean energy.”
Illuminate USA’s massive headquarters at 3600 Etna Parkway in Pataskala was originally built as a speculative building. Since last spring, 250 construction workers have been building rooms for each stage of the solar panel manufacturing process: raw material receiving area, initial assembly, lamination, curing and quality assurance, and finished product distribution. .
The facility currently has one assembly in operation and will have eight lines in operation by the end of the year. To date, Illuminate USA employs more than 475 people in central Ohio. Eventually, the company will have 1,000 employees.
“The fact that Illuminate USA quickly identified, hired, and trained the hundreds of skilled workers currently working in Pataskala makes it possible for us to become a leading manufacturing powerhouse,” JobsOhio President and CEO JP Nauseef said in the release. “Ohio State’s reputation as a leader has grown even further,” he said in a release. “With products now rolling off the line in this new state-of-the-art facility, Ohio is leading the way in expanding solar power production in the nation.”
Pataskala Mayor Mike Compton said thanks to Illuminate USA’s investment in Licking County, many Pataskala residents are finding good-paying jobs in new industries.
“We have had a strong positive response to Illuminate from local employees and are excited that the city of Pataskala will soon be known as the solar manufacturing capital of America,” he said.
Brittany Rogers, Illuminate USA’s chief human resources and human resources officer, said the company is focused on recruiting and developing motivated employees who are passionate about innovation.
“Inspired by the strong response from our talented candidates, we were able to quickly build a top-notch, diverse workforce in just a few months,” she said. “We are excited to see our first-class ‘Illuminators’ succeed in producing cutting-edge American-made products.”
There has also been local backlash over the involvement of Chinese company LONGi, which residents believe has ties to the Chinese Communist Party. Residents outside of Pataskala have been flocking to the Pataskala City Council since last fall to voice their concerns.
Councilors answered many questions at the December meeting and promised to continue finding answers to residents’ questions.
mdevito@gannett.com
740-607-2175
Twitter: @MariaDeVito13
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