Solar Film Operation to Expand (Tucson, Arizona firm)

Solar Film Operation to Expand
Global will use old Imation space, plans to add 50 workers by 2008

By Richard Ducote
ARIZONA DAILY STAR
Tucson, Arizona | Published: 11.09.2006

Global Solar Energy Inc. will move to larger quarters and add about 50 employees by 2008 to greatly expand production of its thin-film solar-power products.

The 10-year-old company, formerly a unit of Tucson Electric Power Co. parent UniSource Energy Corp., said it will spend $75 million on the expansion and move to a South Rita Road facility to boost production 10-fold over the next 18 months.

The company, sold in March for $16 million to a German solar-power company and a private investor, resisted many attractive offers from other cities to move its operations but chose to stay in Tucson, said Joe Snell, chief executive of Tucson Regional Economic Opportunities Inc., or TREO.

Snell said most of his agency's work is aimed at helping existing businesses thrive and expand. With the expected growth of Global Solar, he said, "Tucson is about to shine."
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