ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — There was just one problem with the groundbreaking ceremony this week to launch a huge new solar manufacturing plant here: It's not the company's land yet.
The state Land Office is still accepting bids until April 3 for the 93 acres of state trust land at Mesa del Sol, a development on the southern edge of Albuquerque. Schott AG of Germany plans to build its North American hub for production there, which state officials hope will make New Mexico a leader in the renewable energy industry.
''The Land Office follows a process, but unfortunately Schott, as well as a number of overzealous officials, jumped the gun,'' Land Commissioner Patrick Lyons said in a statement.
About 100 people attended a ceremonial groundbreaking at the site Monday, including Gov. Bill Richardson, Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chavez, Republican U.S. Rep. Heather Wilson, Schott officials and other state and local leaders.
Brian Lynch, a spokesman for Schott North America, said the groundbreaking was ceremonial but it also was meant as proof of the company's commitment to the community.
''This is the real deal,'' he said. ''We're going to bring jobs to New Mexico. We're committed to the state. We're going to do what we say we're going to do.''
Harry Relkin, director of land development for Mesa del Sol, said it plans to win the bid and follow through with the Schott project. If the bid is not successful, he said Mesa del Sol owns some 3,000 acres in the area that could accommodate Schott.
Schott said its plant will produce both photovoltaic panels and receivers for solar thermal power plants. Initial plans call for a 200,000-square-foot facility that will employ about 350 people.
Assistant Land Commissioner Kristin Haase said Lyons and the Land Office welcomes Schott's plan to create high-paying jobs and spur economic development. ''The only issue he has is that the groundbreaking occurred a month before the deadline to accept bids,'' she said.
The groundbreaking gave the impression that bidding had ended, so the Land Office decided to set the record straight, Haase said.
''We certainly don't want to deter any other potential bidders,'' she said.
Lynch acknowledged that bidding is still under way but said Schott has a short timeline for completing the plant and ramping up production given the growing interest in renewable energy.
''We're so aggressive with what we're trying to do that we have to start preparing things,'' he said, noting that the company already has started studying the parcel of land in anticipation of winning the bid.
