Marshall Helmberger

The MT. IRON— More than 100 people, including two of Minnesota’s US Senators came here to pay tribute to the past and promote the future of green energy jobs in the Iron Range late last week. It was the official ribbon-cutting of a major expansion for Heliene, a Canadian-based company that manufactures solar panels, also known as photovoltaics, from its plant in Mt. Iron.
The expansion, dedicated Thursday to former Senator David Tomassoni, includes a larger and more advanced solar panel assembly operation that will greatly expand the plant’s production.
When an earlier company, Silicon Energy, set up shop in the building more than ten years ago, it had the capacity to build about three megawatts worth of solar panels a year—enough to can power about 1,800 houses on average. The expanded plant, made possible by a $45 million investment, including $21 million in state funding and $1 million in St. a year, or enough to power 540,000 homes. That would make the plant at Mt. Iron is the largest of Heliene’s three manufacturing facilities, some of which are located near Sudbury, Ont. and in Florida. Employment at the plant will increase from 65 workers currently on staff to about 100 by the end of the year.
The ramp-up in production comes at a time of extraordinary growth in the photovoltaic industry and has the potential to position the Iron Range as a leader in the production of solar panels in the US, said Sen. Amy Klobuchar who spoke at the event. “The fact is, we already have the second largest solar panel facility in the United States of America, right here.”
Senator Tom Bakk said that the vision of Sen. Tomassoni for the plant, which was built more than a decade ago on wasterock from the nearby Minntac mining operation and that his experience and seniority in St. before there is a plan for what may come at the end of it. “Let me tell you if you are in St. Paul and you want money for a project that doesn’t exist. It’s not easy,” Bakk said.
The site was first home to Silicon Energy, which soon went out of business, but Heliene – a company with a long track record – has since taken over the facility and now appears poised to ramp up solar production. site panel. That development, which is happening around the world, has brought panel prices to a point where they can now power most homes at a cost equal to or cheaper than traditional sources of electricity, especially already at the time of the solar tax credits, which were expanded as part of the Inflation Reduction Act. And, according to PV Tech News, the tax incentives created by the Inflation Reduction Act prompted the company to begin planning to further build its manufacturing capacity in the US
Senator Tina Smith said the transition to renewable energy is well underway and that the Iron Range could play a major role in the development of new energy in the future. “This transition to a clean energy future will happen,” he said. “The only question is whether we lead or whether we follow and today we are showing that we will lead the way from the Iron Range in Minnesota. This project is about building an American supply chain for solar panels that will power the our transition to energy independence and a clean energy future.
Smith, who was closely involved in the drafting of the Inflation Reduction Act, noted that the new law will directly benefit the new facility “through incentives for domestic manufacturing and development of domestic content.”
A company with a mission
In his opening comments last week, Heliene CEO Martin Pochtaruk spoke to his company’s stated commitment to healing the planet, and he worshiped the Anishinabe. “We are located on land that was ceded in the 1854 treaty between the Chippewa of Lake Superior and the federal government,” he said. “By recognizing that we are on native land, we recognize the truth of the land, which allows us to move on the path of truth and reconciliation.”
He said the company’s mission is focused on healing and that “by helping to transition to affordable, sustainable, renewable energy, we are making a commitment to sustainability.”
The company’s website mentions the ancient Hebrew concept of Tikkun Olam, which in modern times refers to the responsibility shared by all people to pursue social justice.