ATLANTA – Demand for solar panel recycling services has grown so much that a solar recycling company is accelerating its planned operations in Polk County, Gov. Brian Kemp announced Thursday.
SOLARCYCLE will invest an additional $62 million to increase its solar panel recycling capacity in Cedartown to 10 million panels per year, a project that will create 640 full-time jobs.
The company already has under construction a 1.1-million-square-foot solar glass factory there representing an estimated $344 million investment and 617 new jobs.
“As Georgia continues to lead the nation in attracting jobs from emerging industries, we’re thankful SOLARCYCLE is moving up creation of these opportunities in Northwest Georgia, benefitting that entire region’s economy,” Kemp said. “I look forward to its impact in the years to come.”
The new factory will position SOLARCYCLE as one of the first manufacturers of specialized glass for crystalline-silicon photovoltaics in the nation.
“In response to continued demand for solar recycling and domestic manufacturing, we will be able to scale operations and begin hiring sooner than planned,” said Suvi Sharma, cofounder and CEO of SOLARCYCLE.
The new facility will be located in an existing 255,000-square-foot building that will be renovated to house the company’s solar panel recycling operations.
The company is filling full-time jobs in manufacturing, engineering, management, research and design, and support staff. Interested individuals can find out more by clicking on www.solarcycle.us/careers.
The new plant will begin operations during the second half of next year.
The Georgia Department of Economic Development’s Global Commerce team worked on the project in partnership with the Development Authority of Polk County, Georgia Power, and the Technical College System of Georgia’s Quick Start program.