WILMER, Texas — Read this story and more North Texas business news from our partners at the Dallas Business Journal
A Chinese solar power company plans to create about 1,500 jobs at its first U.S. manufacturing plant at the Tradepoint 45 West industrial development in Wilmer.
Trina Solar Co Ltd. leased all 1.35 million square feet of Tradepoint 45 West, according to a Jan 30 announcement. The company announced its plans to build a manufacturing facility in southern Dallas in September but didn’t confirm the location of the site until this week.
Founded in 1997 in Changzhou, China and with a U.S. headquarters in Silicon Valley, Trina Solar is a smart solar products producer that has provided clean energy to developments in more than 160 countries and regions.
The company plans to invest more than $200 million into the Wilmer facility and expects to create 1,500 jobs once the plant is operational later this year. The facility will produce large power output Vertex photovoltaic modules using 210-millimeter large size wafers and source polysilicon from the U.S. and Europe.
Located within the International Inland Port of Dallas along Sunrise Road, Tradepoint 45 is a collaboration between Dallas-based developer Champion Partners and Chicago-headquartered Cresset Partners. Stream Realty Partners brokered the transaction.
"This facility represents a significant investment in American manufacturing that will bolster the U.S. solar market in addition to positioning Texas as a leader in the transition to a sustainable future," Trina Solar President Steven Zhu said in a statement. "We are grateful to the City of Wilmer and look forward to the many accomplishments our partnership will bring."
Tradepoint 45 is one of the largest speculative industrial developments ever in Texas. The facility has 40-foot clear heights and includes 354 trailer positions and 306 car parks which can be doubled to 690 total trailer positions and 557 car parks.
"We are pleased that this unique and large project appealed to Trina Solar, who is making a sizable capital investment and creating a significant number of new jobs," ChampionCo-Managing Partner Steve Modory said in a statement. "The City of Wilmer was also very instrumental in bringing Trina to Tradepoint 45 West and have been terrific to work with thanks to their pro-growth and pro-jobs attitude."
