Solar Tracker Firm Opens $50M Plant, Triples U.S. Output

A solar technology company is bringing hundreds of good-paying jobs back home while supercharging America's clean energy future.

Array Technologies, a solar tracker specialist founded in Albuquerque over 30 years ago, just cut the ribbon on a gleaming new 216,000 square foot manufacturing facility in its hometown. The $50 million plant nearly triples the company's previous production capacity.

Solar trackers are the systems that tilt solar panels to follow the sun throughout the day, boosting energy production by up to 25%. Array has deployed trackers powering 100 gigawatts of solar energy worldwide, enough to power roughly 19 million American homes.

The new facility represents a shift from outsourcing to hometown manufacturing. Instead of buying components from other suppliers, Array can now produce critical parts in house, strengthening supply chains and keeping more value in American communities.

"By expanding what we can produce here at home, we are strengthening our supply chain, creating skilled career opportunities and building capabilities that will help us serve our customers for years to come," said Kevin Hostetler, Array's chief executive officer.

The campus will employ around 300 people in specialized roles like stamping press operators, tooling and die technicians, and process engineers. These aren't temporary gigs but career-track positions with room to grow.

Several components manufactured at the facility will qualify for the Section 45X Advanced Manufacturing Production Tax Credit, part of recent federal efforts to boost domestic clean energy production. The company financed construction through a public-private partnership including $2.5 million from New Mexico's job-creation fund, plus additional support from Albuquerque and Bernalillo County.

The Ripple Effect

Array's expansion comes at a remarkable moment for the company. Last month they reported second quarter earnings of $342.1 million, a 53% jump from the previous quarter, with a record $2.5 billion in orders booked.

That growth translates directly into opportunities for New Mexicans. The 300 new jobs represent 300 families with more stable incomes, 300 sets of skills that can't be outsourced, and 300 reasons for young people to build careers without leaving home.

The facility was designed around lean manufacturing principles and continuous improvement, meaning workers will have input into making processes better over time. It's the kind of workplace culture that turns jobs into careers and careers into communities.

Array also recently acquired Affordable Wire Management, expanding its ability to provide complete solutions for utility-scale solar projects from a single American source.

A company that started in Albuquerque three decades ago is now leading the charge to make America a clean energy manufacturing powerhouse again.