KOB 4 News reports that Maxeon Solar Technology (“Maxeon”) will soon construct a new solar panel manufacturing plant at Albuquerque’s Mesa del Sol that is expected to employ about 1,800 persons, with construction expected to begin early next year. The plant would be the only solar cell manufacturing facility operating within the United States.
Maxeon’s CEO, Dr. Bill Mulligan, said that he selected the 160-acre location at Mesa del Sol following a nationwide search.
City, state and federal leaders, including New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, announced that the new facility represented the largest economic investment in New Mexico since Intel Corporation expanded to Rio Rancho more than 40 years ago.
The KOB 4 News story may be viewed HERE.
Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham recently issued a press release (“PR”) about Maxeon’s forthcoming facility. The PR may be read HERE.
Maxeon’s webpage may be viewed HERE.
It seems that New Mexico is at the tip of the spear in many ways regarding movement toward a carbon free or carbon reduced society, whether the issue is solar, hydrogen or wind energy. It’s generally viewed as a net-positive when new businesses are established within the state, and all the more so when a new business promises 1,800 new jobs; however, much of this still remains to be seen.
This writer is concerned that the incredible rush to renewable energy as a means to supplant fossil fuels (i.e., oil and gas), while meanwhile basking in the millions of dollars generated through New Mexico’s oil and gas industry, could turn to the negative if the new technologies are unable to provide the volume and consistency of energy required to run our society.
I pray that our leaders are seeking these new technologies not simply from an ideologically-driven point of view, but out of concern for what is genuinely best for our citizens and the state as we move into the future – exercising keen and realistic vision for the immediate and long term future of our nation. Wisdom is so very critical!
Proverbs 1:7 (ESV)
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.”
Praise Jesus forevermore!