There is some good news to report in the solar industry
today, after a few weeks of disappointing news.
3M plans to expand its specialty solar panel film
production line at its Columbia, Mo., plant over the next year. According to
the Columbia Daily Tribune, the expansion will add 50 jobs.
3M started producing Ultra Barrier Solar Film, a
protective film for solar panels, at the Columbia facility in 2010, the Tribune
reported. The $20 million investment was expected to add 120 jobs in Columbia
facility by last year, but demand has “spurred” the expansion plans
even further, 3M’s Columbia plant manager, Bill Moore, told the newspaper.
In
addition to the protective film, the company is producing film for solar panels
that concentrates light on the photovoltaic cells to “dramatically
increase” electricity output.
The news comes amid reports of bankruptcies and layoffs
in the solar industry.