Recurrent Energy, a subsidiary of Japanese giant Sharp Corp.,
announced earlier this year that it had signed a deal with Toronto manufacturing giant
Celestica to produce solar panels here. The agreement is expected to create 300 full-time manufacturing jobs locally and to further create another 2,000 construction jobs, according to the
provincial government's estimate.
Recurrent Energy says the production run, expected to begin this summer, is designed to fulfill the local-supplier requirements of Ontario's solar Feed-in-Tariff program. Provincial Minister of Energy Brad Duguid issued a statement saying this is evidence of how his government's policy is creating a local industry as well as reducing our carbon footprint. "This is another great example of how Ontario is showing the
world that we are open to innovative, high value renewable energy
projects," he said.
Mike Andrade, a senior VP of Celestica, said in the announcement that the agreement is an example of how his company is "pleased" to help deliver on the employment promise of the provincial legislation, "This agreement reflects the depth of
Celestica's solar strategy and is emblematic of our strong capability to
deliver innovative supply chain solutions to the solar market to meet
the demand for new energy-generation alternatives in Ontario." Indeed, Celestica recently received the "
Green Supply Chain Award" from
Supply & Demand Chain Executive magazine.
Writer: Edward Keenan
Sources: Patricia Pytel, Ontario Ministry of Economic Development and Trade; Sean Gibson for Recurrent Energy;
Celestica