Given that its unemployment rate has doubled over the past year, Albuquerque got some welcome news this week when Schott Solar announced that by the end of December its photovoltaic (PV) module production line will be at full capacity with 160 employees. The company has been hiring up to ten new employees a week since early November, for a total of 60 new positions. The production line will be operating seven days a week, 24 hours a day.

“Creating jobs in today’s economic environment is a tremendous achievement for any company,” said Dr. Gerald Fine, CEO & President, SCHOTT Solar, Inc., in a media advisory. “To be able to almost double our PV workforce in such a short time is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the people who have been with us from the start. They put in the work that allows us to grow.”

Schott Solar began production at its new Mesa del Sol facility nine months ago. The plant manufactures two types of products, large scale solar “concentrated solar receivers” used by power utilities and solar farms, and smaller units called “photovoltaic modules” used on both commercial and residential buildings.