Governor Welcomes New Business To California

Governor Jerry Brown joined business leaders and elected officials for the dedication of Soitec’s North American headquarters in San Diego. 

Brown was Wednesday’s KVML “Newsmaker of the Day”.

Soitec’s San Diego headquarters will produce concentrator photovoltaic (CPV) modules for the U.S. renewable-energy market and employ 450 people, while supporting an additional 1,000 indirect jobs in the region.

“I’m glad to be here for the dedication of Soitec’s manufacturing plant,” said Governor Brown. “The expansion of clean energy businesses is a direct result of a law I signed that requires one third of our electricity to come from renewable sources by 2020. That’s a goal and we’re going to meet it.”

The dedication followed the Governor’s recent climate conference in San Francisco. According to Brown, Soitec is a company that will continue to help to fight climate change.

The Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GoBiz) has worked with Soitec since 2009 to locate the headquarters in San Diego. The California Public Utilities Commission recently approved 155 MW of electricity purchase between Soitec and San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E). The project also received support from the City of San Diego.

Soitec has not relied on any government funding for this project.

“The “Newsmaker of the Day” is heard each weekday morning on AM 1450 KVML at 6:47, 7:47 and 8:47am.