Evergreen Solar Breaks Ground on its Second Manufacturing Facility in Massachusetts

The new manufacturing plant will increase Evergreen Solar's production capacity in Massachusetts by 75 megawatts (MW) and double its employee base in the state to more than 600. Evergreen currently operates its prototype production and manufacturing facility in Marlboro, Massachusetts.

"Several states aggressively pursued our planned new facility. Governor Deval Patrick's vision for broad scale solar power adoption, through an innovative solar incentive program and the creative financial incentive programs that the Governor and the Legislature are expected to provide, were key factors in our decision to expand in Massachusetts," said Richard M. Feldt, Chairman, President and CEO of Evergreen Solar.

The support program provided by the state includes $23 million in grants, up to $17.5 million in low-interest loans, and a low-cost 30-year lease of state-owned property in Devens.

The new production facility is expected to start shipping product in the third quarter of 2008 and reach full capacity by late 2008 or early 2009.