October 13, 2010

 Las Vegas, NV-- Tuesday, Nevada Senator Harry Reid joined executives from A-Power Energy Generation Systems in opening the company’s new LED manufacturing plant which will also house A-Power’s North American offices and a temporary manufacturing facility for its planned wind turbine plan. This investment will create 1,000 permanent, high-paying jobs for Nevadan.

Las Vegas Sun – New plant expected to bring more than 1,000 jobs to Henderson
http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2010/oct/12/new-plant-will-bring-1000-jobs-henderson/

Officials unveiled an LED manufacturing plant on Tuesday expected to create more than 1,000 jobs in Henderson by the end of the year.

The 36,000-square-foot plant at 1100 Mary Crest Road, near the Interstate 215 and Gibson Road interchange, will house a manufacturing plant for Singapore-based Asia New Energy.
An LED is a light emitting diode, which produce light while using less energy than standard light bulbs. They can be used in everything from flashlights to televisions.

The building also will be a temporary site for a wind turbine assembly facility operated by renewable energy company A-Power. Officials said A-Power will hire about 100 workers initially and up to 300 workers after it relocates to a planned 320,000-square-foot facility.

“The idea that we had to bring manufacturing jobs to Clark County...that’s what brings this about today,” Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said at a news conference to announce the manufacturing plant.

Reid noted that the U.S. is the greatest consumer of oil in the world. Green energy projects will help create jobs in Nevada and reduce dependence on foreign oil — two priorities, he said.

“Today we’re here for a strategy for tomorrow,” Reid said. “Nevada is already the nation’s hub for renewable energy.”

The campaign stop allowed Reid to showcase the kind of international clout and recognition he says he brings to Nevada as the Senate majority leader.

Cappy McGarr, managing partner of U.S. Renewable Energy Group and host of the event, said Reid was instrumental in getting the companies to locate in Henderson.

“He has been very astute at bringing new-energy jobs to Nevada,” McGarr said, calling the Silver State “pro-business” and adding that all jobs would be local jobs.

“I don’t know how you could get any more local than all this,” he said.

Tom Conway, international vice president of United Steelworkers, said that because 250 tons of steel are in each turbine, he expects jobs for his union’s members.

“Reid has been instrumental in bringing this about,” he said.

Asia New Energy and A-Power have a long-standing relationship of partnerships in Asia, said Gene Jixiang Lu, chairman and CEO of A-Power. A-Power is based in Senyang, China.

“In the future, we will also depend on your support,” Lu said through a translator.

Speaking through a translator, Kai Huang, vice mayor of Senyang City Government, said, “As the biggest energy-producing and consumer countries in the world, China and the U.S. are expanding new energy.”

The countries could continue to “set a good example for energy and environmental protection” by supporting green energy projects, he said.

The location of the final facility for wind turbines is yet to be determined, Lu said, but it will be located in either Clark County or Lincoln County in Southern Nevada. The LED manufacturing facility, he said, will begin hiring to fill the 1,000 job openings right away.

Lu didn’t give any specific instructions for applying for jobs, but he said his company had been working closely with the state to recruit.

Oct 12 2010 5:04PM PDT- New plant to provide high-paying jobs
KSNV, News 3
Anchor: Leading manufacturer of wind turbine in China is opening a new facility in Henderson. The plant is expected to provide hundreds of high paying jobs. News 3 attended today's ceremony and joins us live now in the studio and matt you say several important Chinese dignitary also attended that event.
Reporter: The mayor of the city and CEO of the company that is opening the facility came together to celebrate their North American headquarters. Now this facility will serve as a work site for wind turbine and led manufacturing. Today’s speakers talked about the importance of green energy in the United States, among them Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid who stressed how this type of technology can be a great economic engine. That’s been a major talking point for Reid during his campaign. Green energy equals jobs. He told us he is better prepared to handle Nevada economic problems than his opponent Sharron Angle.
Harry Reid: Have we done enough of course not. We found ourselves in such a huge hole when the congress started; 8 million jobs had just been lost, Wall Street collapsed. It Nevada harder than any place else because we were top of the food chain for such a long time.

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Oct 12 2010 12:00PM PDT- New Renewable Energy Company in Henderson
KSNV, News 3
Anchor: Harry Reid is celebrating the opening of a new renewable energy company in Henderson this afternoon. His campaign tells us high paying jobs will come to Nevada with the opening of this new facility which will house an led manufacturing plant and serve as a wind turbine assembly site. This evening former President Bill Clinton will rally for Reid at Valley High School where he's expected to focus on Reid's job creation agenda. Last month Clinton stumped for Reid's son Rory who is in a tough race against Brian Sandoval for governor. I called the Sharron Angle campaign to get their reaction to today's event. We’re waiting for an official statement. Angle has been hounding Reid on TV for his poor leadership in handling this sour economy.

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