It’s always exciting when efforts to move new energy technology forward also lead to new job creation.

Earlier today, Secretary Chu was invited to tour the new Amonix solar power system manufacturing plant in North Las Vegas, Nevada. Construction of the facility, which was completed in May, generated 135 construction jobs and more than 300 permanent jobs!

The company was able to take advantage of a $5.9 million clean energy manufacturing tax credit to build the $18 million facility. The 214,000 sq. ft. plant manufacturers Amonix MegaModules®, part of the company’s concentrated photovoltaic (CPV) solar power system.

Secretary Chu highlighted Nevada’s leadership in clean energy and the importance of regaining American leadership in high-tech manufacturing.

And this is all just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to job creation in Nevada. In the last two and a half years, the Energy Department has invested more than $440 million to support 80 projects in the state. In the first three months of this year alone, more than 350 jobs were created or saved through these projects.

Additionally, we’ve offered nearly $1.5 million in loan guarantees and conditional commitments for loan guarantees for five Nevada clean energy projects, which are expected to create about 2,000 new jobs.

Like the Secretary says, we want clean energy technologies to be invented in America, made in America and sold around the world. And the solar systems manufactured at Amonix get us one step closer to making that goal a reality.