The Department of Energy (DOE) has closed its $465 million loan with Tesla Motors Inc. for construction of a manufacturing facility in southern California on the Model S electric sedan and a power-train manufacturing facility in Palo Alto, California. The Palo Alto facility will assemble electric vehicle battery packs, electric motors, and related electric vehicle control equipment, both for Tesla’s own electric vehicles and for sale to other automobile manufacturers.
The agreement was negotiated and signed by the Department’s Loan Programs Office, which supports the development of innovative, advanced vehicle technologies to create thousands of clean energy jobs while helping reduce the nation’s dependence on foreign oil. “This is an investment in our clean energy future that will create jobs and reduce our dependence on foreign oil,” said DOE Secretary Steven Chu. “It will help build a customer base and begin laying the foundation for American leadership in the growing electric vehicles industry. This is part of a sustained effort to develop and commercialize technologies that will be broadly deployed throughout the American auto industry.”
Tesla’s planned Model S will consume no gasoline and will not produce any tailpipe emissions. It is being designed to offer a variety of range options depending on the battery pack used, from 160 to 300 miles on a single charge. Volume production of the Model S is planned to begin in 2012 with a target production capacity of 20,000 vehicles per year by the end of 2013. According to Tesla, the Model S project and power-train manufacturing facility are expected to create over 1,600 jobs.
Archive for January 22nd, 2010
DOE to Loan $465 Million to Tesla Motors for Development of Electric Vehicles
PNM & First Solar Sign to Install 22MW of Utility-Scale Solar Power in New Mexico
PNM, New Mexico’s largest electric utility, has signed a contract with First to construct 22MW of utility scale photovoltaic (PV) solar power plants in New Mexico. First Solar, Tempe, Ariz., will construct the facilities using its advanced PV panels at five separate sites within PNM’s service territory. PNM says the 22MW can produce enough power to supply 7,000 average-sized New Mexico homes. The specifics of that plan, to be filed with the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission (PRC) on Jan. 25, call for a total of 45 MW of utility scale solar PV to be added to PNM’s system in the 2010-2011 timeframe.
Robroy Industries Conduit Division Appoints Bill Fisher as National Sales Manager
Robroy Industries, Conduit Division (Gilmer, Texas): Bill Fisher has been appointed national sales manager. Prior to joining Robroy Industries, Fisher was with United Copper Industries (UCI), Denton, Texas, a manufacturer of copper building wire. While at UCI, he held severals sales management posts. Fisher earned his Bachelor’s of Science degree from Texas Tech University.
Robert A. Amey Co. to rep Klein Tools in Pacific Northwest
The Robert A. Amey Co., Portland, Ore., will represent Klein Tools in Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington effective February 1, 2010. The company will promote Klein products through authorized wholesale electrical distributors to electrical end users throughout their sales geography.