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Great Lakes Solx PR LLC (Solx), a company dedicated to solar panel production, has made known its intentions to set up the first solar panel manufacturing site in Puerto Rico.
The firm will take over the old Hewlett Packard (HP) site in Aguadilla, which encompasses 65 acres, with commercial operations set to kick off in April 2025. This project is in line with Puerto Rico’s goals in embracing renewable energy and will significantly enhance the local economy.
“We’ve carefully chosen our location in Aguadilla, on the HP campus, as we have faith in the potential of this remarkable community. HP has meticulously maintained the cutting-edge facility, and we are dedicated to commencing operations next year,” commented James Holmes, co-founder and CEO of Solx. “We are thrilled to enhance the local economy by generating job opportunities and bolstering Puerto Rico’s renewable energy future.”
Puerto Rico is recognized as a frontrunner in the adoption of solar energy, supported by the Puerto Rico Energy Public Policy Act (Act 17-2019) and substantial funding from the U.S. Department of Energy through the Inflation Reduction Act. The island has set a definitive target of achieving 100% renewable energy by 2050, with interim objectives of 40% by 2025 and 60% by 2040. According to the firm’s CEO, the Solx facility will be instrumental in helping Puerto Rico reach these targets, producing as much as 1.2 gigawatts of solar panels each year to aid local initiatives as well as broader markets in the continental U.S.
“We are dedicated to aiding Puerto Rico’s shift toward a sustainable future driven by renewable energy,” Holmes further emphasized. “By producing solar panels locally, we aspire to directly contribute to the island’s energy evolution.”
The new Solx facility will initially create up to 250 full-time, skilled jobs, providing significant career opportunities for residents of the island. These roles will enable Puerto Rico inhabitants to engage in a burgeoning industry, fostering long-term economic stability.
Governor Pedro Pierluisi Urrutia praised the initiative, stating: “Puerto Rico provides an excellent location and a talented workforce for solar panel manufacturing.”
“This new facility will produce cost-effective solar panels to fulfill the increasing demand for clean energy in the region,” the governor remarked. “This investment is poised to stimulate economic growth and job creation, thereby facilitating the construction of a sustainable future for Puerto Rico. We welcome Solx to Aguadilla and commend their vision of aiding the transition to renewable energy.”
“With this kind of investment, we have a remarkable chance to become a benchmark for other islands and communities transitioning from fossil fuels to renewable energy,” Pierluisi added. “I am confident that with the right investments and policies we are establishing, Puerto Rico can revamp its energy system in a manner that is both sustainable and economically rewarding.”
Solx has teamed up with Invest Puerto Rico (InvestPR), which has been pivotal in facilitating the company’s entry onto the island, assisting them with navigating available incentives along with the Department of Economic Development and Commerce (DDEC), connecting the business with real estate and talent acquisition resources, and introducing them to crucial stakeholders like industry experts and associations.
Ella Woger-Nieves, CEO of InvestPR, highlighted the significance of the collaboration, remarking that “Solx’s choice to set up its operations in Puerto Rico reflects the island’s potential as a center for renewable energy innovation.”
“We take pride in having assisted Solx in the processes to establish its operations here,” she said. “This initiative contributes to our renewable energy objectives while creating valuable prospects for Puerto Ricans in a vital and expanding industry.”
InvestPR and DDEC will also lend support to Solx’s workforce development initiatives, ensuring that local talent is equipped with the skills essential to thrive in the renewable energy sector.
“Once again we witness how high-quality companies opt to establish themselves on the island due to our distinctive value proposition and an exceptionally qualified and trained workforce,” DDEC Secretary Manuel Cidre Miranda stated. “Solx’s investment will generate over 250 jobs in Aguadilla and assist in fulfilling the high demand for solar panels in Puerto Rico.”
