First tenant commits to STAMP and will create 600 full-time jobs

Photo by Tom Rivers – Gov. Andrew Cuomo announces 1366 Technologies from Bedford, Mass., will build a new factory at STAMP, a 1,250-acre site in the Town of Alabama, just south of Orleans County. Frank van Mierlo, CEO of 1366 Technologies, is pictured at right sharing in the announcement at Genesee Community College in Batavia.

BATAVIA – Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that 1366 Technologies, a manufacturer of technologies for the solar energy industry, will establish its first large commercial Direct Wafer production plant and significantly grow its workforce at the high-tech Science and Technology Advanced Manufacturing Park in Alabama, Genesee County.

Construction of the $700 million manufacturing facility will require two phases during which the company will create at least 600 new, full-time jobs over the next five years. 1366 expects to eventually create more than 1,000 new jobs in Upstate New York’s Finger Lakes region.

“This $700 million investment is an enormous vote of confidence in the Upstate economy and sends the message that there is opportunity in every corner of this state.” Governor Cuomo said. “Today’s announcement is an example of how we are combining this region’s natural strengths with our vision to develop New York’s entrepreneurial future and make the Empire State a true leader in developing the clean energy technologies of tomorrow. I am proud to continue building on Upstate’s economic resurgence and I am pleased to have 1366 helping us lead the way forward.”

1366 Technologies develops and manufactures high performance silicon wafers, the building block of solar cells and the most expensive component of a solar panel. The company’s revolutionary Direct Wafer technology transforms how the wafers are made and replaces a decades-old, expensive and wasteful manufacturing process with one elegant step. The result slashes the cost of a wafer by 50 percent.

As a “drop-in” replacement for conventional wafers, 1366 Technologies makes it easy for cell and module manufacturers to strip out costs without adding complexity.

“We couldn’t be more proud to partner with the State of New York and contribute to the Finger Lakes Region’s vibrant future,” said 1366 Technologies CEO Frank van Mierlo. “Governor Cuomo and his administration recognize the opportunity advanced manufacturing brings to New York and to the United States. Innovation, like ours, is at the heart of economic growth and jobs. Thanks to his strategic vision and support, we will bring both to Upstate New York.”

1366 Technologies will build a 3GW wafer facility with a methodical phased approach, starting with a 250MW facility. Over the course of the multi-phase project, 1366 will invest approximately $700 million, including a $100 million initial investment, becoming the largest economic development project in the history of Genesee County.

In order to encourage 1366 Technologies to establish its new manufacturing operations in the Finger Lakes region, the Governor’s administration put forth a competitive and attractive New York State incentive package of up to $56.3 million and up to 8.5 megawatts of low-cost hydropower, which includes estimated benefits and savings available through as-of-right and performance-based programs. State agencies providing incentives and support include Empire State Development (ESD); New York Power Authority (NYPA); New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA); and New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR).

ESD’s incentives are tied directly to the creation of at least 600 new jobs, and the grant portion of the package will be used specifically for establishing infrastructure and constructing the initial 130,000 square foot facility, which 1366 Technologies will lease for the next decade.

The Science and Technology Advanced Manufacturing Park (STAMP) site is part of New York’s High Tech Corridor and is the state’s second shovel-ready mega site (1,250 acres) designed to attract large companies including semiconductor, display/ imaging, photovoltaics, optics/ photonics, and bio-manufacturing firms.

The site is located within the New York Power Authority’s low cost hydropower zone and is serviced by redundant, highly reliable power. Located just five miles north of the New York State Thruway on exit 48A, the site has access to a bi-region population of 2.1 million people.

The STAMP site has been validated as a regional priority project by the Finger Lakes Regional Economic Development Council and is supported by regional business and labor organizations, as well as regional colleges and universities.

State Assemblyman Steve Hawley, R-Batavia, issued this statement about the project.

“I would like to thank the governor’s office, 1366 Technologies, Empire State Development, Genesee County ESD and the multitude of other agencies that collaborated to bring this project to Western New York,” Hawley said. “This is a historic day in the development of Western New York’s economy and a major victory for all the counties in my district. 1366 Technologies is revolutionizing the solar industry and has committed to creating more than 1,000 new jobs for local college graduates looking to work in the technology and energy industries.

“The future of New York’s economy lies in growing our manufacturing and technology sectors, and I am proud to see my district and Western New York as a whole receive such a large investment,” Hawley said. “I look forward to working with 1366 Technologies in the future and finding other ways to attract similar companies to our region.”

Orleans Hub will have more later about today’s announcement.