US Ambassador Kenney lauds SunPower Corporation  

Amb. Kristie Kenney, in a visit to SunPower Corporation’s solar cell manufacturing plant in Sta. Rosa, Laguna, cited the US company for its leadership role in the renewable energy sector, as well as its confidence in the Philippine investment climate and Filipino engineering talent.

From a 25Mw capacity in 2004, SunPower grew its annual solar cell production capacity to 105 Mw last year. This year, SunPower plans to open its new plant in Batangas with a total annual production capacity of over 350 Mw upon its completion in 2010, which would bring the company’s total production capacity in the Philippines to over 450 Mw.

SunPower VP for Operations Greg Reichow said that a major factor in selecting the Philippines as its operational hub is the abundance of Filipino engineers. SunPower currently employs about 1,400 personnel in the Philippines , only three of whom are expats. Says Reichow, “Our Filipino engineering staff are responsible for innovating technologies that have made our solar cells the most energy-efficient in the world today. They are very creative and resourceful professionals.”

Reichow added, “SunPower is a socially responsible corporate entity. We keep the air clean through our solar cell production and we contribute as well to the rural electrification program of the national government through our partnership with the Alliance of Mindanao Off-grid Renewable Energy Program (AMORE) Program.”

Photo shows (L-R) Greg Reichow , AMORE chief Tetchi Capellan, Amb. Kenney, and USAID Office of Energy and Environment Chief Daniel Moore reading the marker unveiled during the visit citing SunPower for its contribution to USAID’s electrification of remote villages in Mindanao with solar power under the AMORE Program.