HILLSBORO, Ore. (AP) -- The energy equipment maker SolarWorld is set to open a $440 million manufacturing plant in Hillsboro.
The German company says the plant is North America's largest solar cell plant. By 2011, it is expected to manufacture enough material to generate 500 megawatts of electricity.
The Hillsboro factory covers 480,000 square feet. It is one of six solar manufacturing projects that have come to the state in the last 18 months.
Earlier this week, Sanyo broke ground on a solar energy product plant in Salem.
Oregon has become an attractive site for renewable energy companies largely because of the state's Business Energy Tax Credit.
SolarWorld spokeswoman Jennifer Cloer says the plant has 250 employees and that number is expected to reach 1,000 within the next three years.