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Photovoltaic Cell Factory May Open in Buffalo, New York

posted by janrinok on Tuesday October 18 2016, @06:21AM   Printer-friendly
from the buffalo-buffalo-buffalo-buffalo-buffalo-buffalo-buffalo-buffalo-buffalo-buffalo-times-one-billion dept.

butthurt writes:

The USA Today and Reuters report that Tesla Motors and Panasonic announced their intention to open a factory in Buffalo, New York. Photovoltaic cells, and modules containing them, would be made there. Production might begin in 2017.

The two firms signed a non-binding letter of intent to make the cells for Tesla's stationary power storage units, the Powerwall and Powerpack.

The companies are already collaborating in the production of storage cells for rechargeable batteries.

previously:

Original Submission

 
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  • (Score: 2, Funny) by butthurt on Tuesday October 18 2016, @06:47AM

    by butthurt (6141) on Tuesday October 18 2016, @06:47AM (#415566) Journal

    I had hoped this could be "from the Buffalo-buffalo-Buffalo-buffalo-buffalo-buffalo-Buffalo-buffalo dept."

  • (Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday October 18 2016, @11:34AM

    by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday October 18 2016, @11:34AM (#415616)

    The large Solar City photovoltaic plant outside Buffalo is nearing completion now, we see updates in the local news quite often. NY State built the building and is also paying at least part of the cost for the manufacturing equipment. It's a real sweetheart deal, come and make solar cells in this factory that we (NYS) will give you.

    On the other hand, the site was originally a large steel plant that closed down around 1970 and has not been used for much of anything since then. The initial part of the construction was remediating the huge "brownfield" site, it's unlikely that any company would have paid for this work--if the state didn't do it, the site would still be dirty and unused. This will put it back on the tax rolls (but almost certainly with an initial tax break).

    Oh, and if you haven't been paying attention, Solar City (run by a Musk family member) is merging with Tesla...maybe:
        http://www.streetinsider.com/Mergers+and+Acquisitions/SolarCity+%28SCTY%29Tesla+%28TSLA%29+Merger+Spread+Blows-Out+Ahead+of+Shareholder+Vote/12032090.html [streetinsider.com]

    • (Score: 2) by Entropy on Tuesday October 18 2016, @07:47PM

      by Entropy (4228) on Tuesday October 18 2016, @07:47PM (#415819)

      I was wondering why anyone would possibly choose new york to manufacture anything....but I suppose if NYC pays for the tools then that would do it lol.

  • (Score: 2) by bob_super on Tuesday October 18 2016, @04:50PM

    by bob_super (1357) on Tuesday October 18 2016, @04:50PM (#415737)

    For most of the year, they can refine low-light and thru-snow performance, but will have to ship the panels to the Gigafactory to find out max or hot efficiency.

    • (Score: 2, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday October 19 2016, @12:25AM

      by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday October 19 2016, @12:25AM (#415936)

      If you check actual climate data you will find that Buffalo has a very high percent of sunshine in the summer (limited cloud cover). Some years back, a downtown park with a nice lake was chosen for the finals of a solar-powered boat competition (college students) for just this reason--very high probability of sunny days.

      Most of the winter snow that makes the national news is not actually in metro Buffalo -- there is a line of hills south of the city that catch most of the lake effect storms off Lake Erie...and have some nice skiing. Of course every now and then the winter wind is from the SW along the lake and the metro area gets whomped -- all part of the fun of living here. If you don't like the winter weather, wait 20 minutes.