Apple Inc. announced the opening of a new plant in Mesa, Ariz., that will create 700 jobs, as well as 1,300 construction jobs, for a region hard hit during the recession. Apple purchased the never-used First Solar facility for $100 million and is leasing it to GT Advanced Technology, a New Hampshire-based company that will produce sapphire glass for components used in some of Apple’s products.
The property includes a 1.3 million-sq.-ft. (120,770-sq.-m.) building with a rooftop solar array. Apple spokesperson Kristin Huguet said the new plant will run on 100-percent renewable energy from day one. The move to Arizona is part of the company’s commitment to returning some of its manufacturing to the United States. Gov. Jan Brewer called the Apple move a “game-changer” for the Greater Phoenix area.
