NextEra chooses solar panel firm

About 1 million of China-based JinkoSolar Holding Co.’s 7 million solar panels will be produced in Jacksonville plant.

In a deal announced Friday, China-based JinkoSolar Holding Co. agreed to produce 7 million solar panels over four years for FPL-parent NextEra Energy.

A portion of those panels will be manufactured at a new JinkoSolar plant in Jacksonville, the company’s first U.S. factory, said FPL spokesman Mark Bubriski. The new plant — which was part of the agreement — is slated to make about 1 million solar panels a year at full capacity.

The Jacksonville factory is expected to create more than 200 direct jobs in Florida as well as hundreds of additional local jobs in shipping and other related industries, according to NextEra’s news release. Production in Jacksonville is expected to begin later this year.

Jim Robo, NextEra Energy’s chairman and CEO, said the investment is part of the company’s strategy to invest more heavily in new solar projects across the country. “We’re thrilled to have the opportunity to buy cost-effective, reliable solar panels made here in America,” he said in the news release.

Florida edged out several other states that competed for the multimillion-dollar investment. Earlier this week, Jacksonville’s city council approved up to $3.4 million in economic incentives with the state for JinkoSolar, according to multiple news reports by Jacksonville media outlets.

“Investing in this solar panel manufacturing facility makes clear our commitment to Florida and the growing U.S. market,” said Kangping Chen, CEO of JinkoSolar, in a news release. He said the advanced solar panel manufacturing operation will provide the company with the ability to grow its U.S. customer base.

JinkoSolar is a New York Stock Exchange-listed company with operations in China, the United States, Japan, Germany, the United Kingdom, Chile, South Africa, India, Mexico, Brazil, United Arab Emirates, Italy, Spain, France and Belgium.