Rep. Trey Kelley Applauds Governor’s Announcement to Create 600 Jobs in Polk County at First-of-its-Kind Solar Panel Glass Plant

ATLANTA – State Representative Trey Kelley (R-Cedartown) applauds Governor Brian Kemp’s recent announcement that SOLARCYCLE, a cutting-edge technology-based solar recycling company, will create more than 600 new full-time jobs in Polk County, investing an estimated $344 million in a solar glass manufacturing facility in Cedartown. The facility will be the first-of-its-kind in the country to use recycled materials from retired solar panels to make new solar glass.

“With new full-time jobs and record investment, this pioneering solar glass facility not only energizes our economy but also underscores our commitment to sustainability,” said. Rep. Kelley. “By ingeniously repurposing retired solar panels, SOLARCYCLE sets a precedent for environmental stewardship, transforming waste into renewable resources and paving the way towards a greener tomorrow. Together, we illuminate the path towards a brighter, cleaner and more prosperous Georgia. I applaud Governor Kemp’s dedication to fostering job growth for diligent Georgians and bolstering the resilience of Georgia’s economy through strategic investments.”

            SOLARCYCLE will construct its first glass manufacturing facility at Cedartown North Business Park in Georgia, scheduled for construction in 2024 and operational by 2026. This expansion will create jobs across various sectors, including manufacturing, engineering, management, research, design and support staff. With advanced recycling technology, SOLARCYCLE already operates two U.S. facilities, extracting up to 95 percent of value from used solar panels. The new Georgia facility will position SOLARCYCLE as a pioneer in producing specialized glass for crystalline-silicon photovoltaics, addressing a critical gap in the domestic supply chain and enabling the production of five to six gigawatts of solar glass annually for sale to domestic manufacturers.

            Updates on the progress of the Cedartown plant may be found here.

Representative Trey Kelley represents the citizens of District 16, which includes portions of Paulding and Polk counties. He was elected to the House of Representatives in 2012 and currently serves on the Code Revision, Energy, Utilities & Telecommunications, Health, Higher Education, Judiciary and Ways & Means committees.

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