Enel North America, the company that built 13 wind farms in Oklahoma, formally announced Monday it had officially chosen Inola in northeastern Oklahoma as the location for its nearly $1.8 billion solar panel manufacturing operation.
The plant will be built at the Tulsa Port of Inola and the site had been widely promoted by Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt and legislative leaders who approved $180 million in incentives to Enel to build the plant, as long as the company hired 1,400 employees.
In its announcement on Monday, Enel said its affiliate 3Sun USA, LLC and its site selection had the support of numerous Oklahoma leaders. The facility is expected to produce 3 gigawatts(GW) of high-performance bifacial photovoltaic (PV) modules and cells annually with the possibility of a second phase that would scale production up to 6 GW.
The facility is expected to create around 1,000 new direct jobs by 2025 with the potential of an additional 900 new direct jobs in a second phase. Construction of the proposed factory is intended to begin in fall of 2023, and it’s anticipated that the first panel will be produced and available to the market by the end of 2024
Building on Oklahoma’s energy legacy. Oklahoma has an enduring energy legacy to take pride in and grow.
“We’ve contributed to that legacy by developing new energy production through a strong portfolio of wind farms across the state. Now we want to take that a step further, connecting Oklahomans with new jobs in the energy supply chain that will reduce dependence on foreign manufacturers and bring us closer to American energy independence,” declared the company.
“Building on Enel’s deep Oklahoma roots. With over a decade of history in Oklahoma, we’ve built 13 wind farms, created over 130 long-term jobs and thousands of construction jobs, and committed over $2million in voluntary support for local programs in rural communities across the state,” stated Enel in making the announcement.
Full release below and link to the following:
- Specific Oklahoma quotes
- Fact sheet
- Images
- Support for Enel’s 3Sun USA Solar Manufacturing Facility
“The announcement of Enel’s investment is a welcome outcome from our months of discussions with
company leadership, legislative negotiations and work with site selectors and developers. I appreciate
Enel for recognizing the potential in Oklahoma and choosing to expand their footprint here. I also thank
my legislative colleagues for passing legislation this year to allow this expansion to happen. These are
good, high paying jobs that will attract people to Oklahoma, in turn helping grow and diversify our
economy.”
– Greg Treat (R-Oklahoma City), President Pro Tempore, Oklahoma Senate
“A project of this scale – bringing over a billion dollars of investment and millions in economic impact to
our state – proves pro-business policies we have enacted in recent years are working. We have all the
right conditions to continue to get projects of this magnitude, and we must continue to press even harder
to make Oklahoma the most business-friendly, and family-friendly, state in the nation.”
– Charles McCall (R-Atoka), Speaker, Oklahoma House of Representatives
“We are proud to collaborate with our regional partners and the Oklahoma Department of Commerce for a
business expansion effort that will bring long-term quality jobs to the Cherokee Nation Reservation.
Cherokee Nation has consistently been at the local forefront of the movement towards a cleaner, more
sustainable future. With Enel North America establishing a production facility in Rogers County, we are
seeing a positive step forward in advancing alternative energy efforts and promoting green energy
manufacturing in a Cherokee community. The talented workforce required for this kind of expansion will
largely be Cherokee and it will have a tremendous economic impact for local families.”
– Chuck Hoskin, Jr., Principal Chief, Cherokee Nation
“We are excited to welcome Enel North America to the Muscogee (Creek) Nation and look forward to the
opportunities this partnership will bring including sustained regional job creation and growth, new
economic prospects, and the development of workforce talent within the greater Tulsa area and our
Reservation. To strengthen the Nation’s collaborative efforts with existing and in-coming partners like the
Tulsa Regional Chamber and Enel North America, we also look to mobilize current tribal services such as
Employment & Training and Tribal Transportation Services for the empowerment and betterment of our
communities.”
– David Hill, Principal Chief, Muscogee (Creek) Nation
“Tulsa Ports is proud to welcome Enel’s 3Sun solar panel manufacturing facility to the Tulsa Port of Inola.
At the end of 2019, Public Service Company of Oklahoma transferred 2,200 acres of industrial land to
Tulsa Ports so that we could develop the necessary infrastructure to attract high-impact economic
development projects. With this exciting announcement, we are continuing to fulfill that shared vision and
believe that Enel will be a great partner for the long-term economic success and development of the
Tulsa Region and the State of Oklahoma.”
– Dewey F. Bartlett, Jr., Board Chairman, Tulsa Port Authority
“This project got off the ground last May when the Tulsa Regional Chamber and the Oklahoma
Department of Commerce held meetings with an Enel executive during the PGA Men’s Championship at
Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa. So, it speaks directly to how tourism can be the perfect gateway to
economic development.
“Enel North America has a global reputation for blazing new trails with clean energy, and this long-term
commitment to Oklahoma as a solar panel supplier will shine a light on the Port of Inola and its ability to
accommodate large-scale development.”
– Arthur Jackson, Senior Vice President of Economic Development, Tulsa Regional Chamber
“This is the largest economic development project in state history, bringing over a billion in investment
into our state and hundreds of long-term jobs. It was a group effort to get this over the finish line, and we
are thankful for the Governor, the Legislature, the Tulsa Port of Inola Industrial Park, Tulsa Regional
Chamber and SelectUSA for coming alongside the Department of Commerce to get this deal done. The
success of this project proves what we’ve known for a long time – Oklahoma can support mega projects,
both in terms of sites and workforce, and this gives us exciting momentum as we seek more projects like
this one.”
– Brent Kisling, Executive Director, Oklahoma Department of Commerce
Support for Enel’s 10+ Year Presence in Oklahoma
“Enel North America has been a valuable partner to the Oklahoma FFA Foundation since 2018 investing
over $60,000 total in the agricultural youth of Oklahoma. With Enel’s support we are able to provide
Oklahoma FFA members with premier leadership workshops at the State FFA Convention, which is the
largest youth convention of any kind that our state hosts. In addition, Enel North America provides a
Washington Leadership Conference Scholarship to a deserving FFA member, sponsors the Agricultural
Education Career Passports, showcases a booth at the Oklahoma State FFA Convention Career Expo for
all attendees to gain greater knowledge about Enel’s mission and career opportunities as well as supports
numerous award banquets at the convention. It is because of partners like Enel North America that
Oklahoma FFA members continue to have the opportunity to thrive and make a positive difference in their
home and communities.”
– Jacey Fye, Executive Director, Oklahoma FFA Foundation.
“Enel is the greatest business partner and supporter that a public school could possibly hope to have. The
company’s personal relationship and commitment to Shidler Schools has been rock solid for eight
consecutive years. Enel’s investment in our community enabled us to pass a bond to replace our 98-yearold middle/high school buildings with a brand-new beautiful school, and through annual support from Enel
we have been able to expand STEAM activities, increase students’ access to college, and greatly expand
technology in all of our schools.”
– Rick Rogers, Superintendent, Shidler Public Schools
“Through our partnership and support from Enel, our fire department has been able to upgrade and
purchase vital pieces of equipment, which has not only made it safer for firefighters, but has allowed us to
better serve our community. We at Shidler Volunteer Fire Department are thankful for the support Enel
has shown to us.”
– Cody Golay, Chief, Shidler Fire Department
“Enel has been an essential partner for the Northern Oklahoma College Renewables program. They were
instrumental getting our program started and their continued support is providing students in rural
Oklahoma wonderful workforce skills and valuable job opportunities.”
– Dr. Frankie Wood-Black, Division Chair, Engineering, Physical Sciences, and Process
Technology Division, Northern Oklahoma College