Phoenix Engineering Jobs Created by Solar Company

One prospering solar power company is helping to create Phoenix engineering jobs (Click here).

Power-One Inc. - a California-based company that produces electrical components for rooftop solar power systems - recently announced its plans to open a new manufacturing facility in Phoenix and create about 350 jobs in engineering, logistics, and factory positions. Those positions will pay an average salary of about $50,000 per year.

"We are planning to hire most of the employees locally," Alex Levran, president of the Renewable Energy Solutions division at Power-One, told The Arizona Republic, adding that the company is planning to work with Arizona State University, which was a big draw for locating the manufacturing plant in Phoenix. 

According to the Greater Phoenix Economic Council, Power-One plans to invest $6 million in converting the former Avnet Inc. headquarters into the company's first American manufacturing facility, which should reach full production by mid-2011.

Power-One will be eligible to receive some state incentives, including tax credits that are offered to renewable-energy-equipment factories, which are based on how much money the company invests in its factory.

"Arizona has a dynamic mix of resources, human capital and knowledge assets to optimize any company's performance," Gov. Jan Brewer said. "Power-One is one more significant milestone along Arizona's path toward strengthening our market position in the global solar industry."