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30th June, 2008
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Ausra Opens First U.S. Solar Thermal Power Factory
Senator Reid and CEO Fishman Start Reflector Production Line in "Crossover Point" for Industry's Future
LAS VEGAS, NV – Ausra, the developer of utility-scale solar thermal power headquartered in Palo Alto, CA, today officially opened the reflector production line of its first North American manufacturing and distribution center in Las Vegas. The 130,000-square-foot, highly automated manufacturing and distribution center will supply the reflectors, absorber tubes, and other key components of the company's solar thermal power plants to the rapidly growing Southwestern solar power industry.
Ausra's solar technology was developed in Sydney, Australia by world solar leader Professor David Mills. Earlier this month, Australian Premiers John Brumby and Anna Bligh, and NSW Minister for Climate Change and the Environment Verity Firth visited the Ausra factory for a pre-opening tour and briefing on Ausra’s plans and capabilities in Australia. [images available]
U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and Ausra President and CEO Robert Fishman officially started the reflector production line. They were joined by Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) President Rhone Resch, Nevada Development Authority (NDA) President & CEO A. Somer Hollingworth, and a bipartisan group of southern Nevada government and business leaders in opening the factory line – the first of its kind in the United States.
"Nevada is poised to be a leader in the clean energy revolution," said Reid. "This facility will help position our state as the premiere place to invest in these new technologies. As the factory expands operations and we continue to invest in clean energy, we'll create thousands of good-paying jobs and keep our outdoors pristine for future generations."
"This is a crossover point for this industry," said Fishman. "Ausra's factory is accelerating Nevada's and America's solar future by tripling worldwide manufacturing capacity, relieving the supply constraint that has slowed the industry, and continuing to drive down costs. By a 94 percent majority, the American public wants solar power development to help address rising prices for traditional energy sources. We're ready to respond now with a clean, reliable and cost-competitive energy choice that will be an economic development machine for the country. Here in Southern Nevada alone, developers are planning over $50 billion of future solar power plants."
About Ausra, Inc.
Ausra delivers energy from the sun. The company provides solar power, steam and energy systems for industrial processes and utility-scale electricity generation. The company is a leader in solar thermal energy design, development and manufacturing, and is committed to serving the global energy needs of its customers in a dependable, market-competitive and environmentally responsible manner. Headquartered in Palo Alto, Calif., Ausra is a privately held company with operations in the United States and Australia. To learn more about Ausra and solar thermal energy, visit www.ausra.com.
