Another solar manufacturing plant sets up shop in Ontario

Ontario has attracted another company – one that will manufacture solar panel parts and create up to 80 direct jobs and 300 indirect jobs. The Melitron Corp. plant in Guelph, Ont., will manufacture key solar panel components in partnership with Sustainable Energy Technologies of Calgary, Alta.

The government is phasing out dirty coal-fired generation and attracting new investments in clean energy projects that harness the wind, water and sun. More than 8,000 new megawatts of cleaner energy power generation have been brought online in Ontario since 2003.

Attracting solar manufacturing plants is part of the government’s Open Ontario Plan to build a clean energy economy that creates jobs and provides cleaner air to breathe.

"Ontario families want to power their homes with clean energy and they also want good paying jobs," McGuinty said. "We’re making it a little easier to have both by encouraging innovative businesses, like Sustainable Energy Technologies and Melitron, to invest in clean technology that creates jobs in communities like Guelph."

Another company, Canadian Solar, is building a solar module manufacturing plant in Guelph. It will employ about 500 people and is scheduled to open in early 2011.