Evergreen Solar opens new plant in Devens, signs $1,2 billion deal with German firm

By Erin Ailworth, Globe Staff

Evergreen Solar, which yesterday cut the ribbon on a new solar-panel manufacturing facility in Devens, has signed a $1.2 billion sales contract with Germany's IBC Solar AG.

The deal, which constitutes about a third of Marlborough-based Evergreen's $2.9 billion contract backlog, is the biggest in company history and extends through 2013.

"We've almost sold out . . . for the next five years," chairman, president, and chief executive Richard M. Feldt said following a tour of the fledgling plant. "That means business is good."

Yesterday, scores of people toured the facility that stretches longer than three football fields. At full capacity, the plant will be able to produce more than 780,000 of the roughly 3-foot-by-5-foot solar panels a year - enough to power more than 23,000 homes. Production of the 200-watt panels, which sell for about $3.50 a watt, hasn't officially started.

"It's pretty nice. We haven't made one panel yet and we've sold out," Feldt joked as he stood yards from a giant red robot used in the production process.

Feldt said he expects the plant to be running at full capacity by the end of next year.

Governor Deval L. Patrick praised Evergreen Solar's presence in Devens, where the plant will provide 700 new jobs.

"We love the jobs. We love the jobs, and we love that the jobs include manufacturing jobs," Patrick said. "I look to this facility as a symbol of the kind of industry we want to build, as a symbol of the future."

The governor issued a challenge to his administration and others, saying he would like to see solar power become more commonly used - perhaps even at state schools.

"Let's bring it to bear," Patrick said. "Let's see a major increase in solar by the end of this calendar year."

But even as he pushed for more solar, Patrick said all renewable energy uses needed to grow and be available at roughly the same cost.

"I think that for us, the focus has got to be on how we reach renewable energy parity," he said. "It's got to be a combination of strategies."

Erin Ailworth can be reached at eailworth@globe.com

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