Governor Jack Markell discusses how various Delaware interests came together to convince Bloom Energy to build its new manufacturing facility at the University of Delaware’s Science and Technology campus at the old Chrysler site in Newark. The venture could create up to 1.500 direct and indirect jobs for the First State.
Governor’s Weekly Message
Governor Jack Markell discusses how various Delaware interests came together to convince Bloom Energy to build its new manufacturing facility at the UD Science and Technology campus at the old Chrysler site in Newark.
Full text of Governor Jack Markell’s weekly message:
Bloom Energy is helping to power some of the world’s largest companies. Google, FedEx, Coca-Cola, WalMart. They’re choosing Bloom because its fuel cell technologies provide these companies reliable and efficient energy that is cleaner than fossil fuels, always available, and whose capacity can grow with their business. Recently, Bloom had a choice of its own. A choice of where it was going to build its Factory of the Future right now- to meet the growing demand for efficient and reliable energy. Their choice – is Delaware.
And the outcome could be up to 1,500 new jobs – getting people to work right here in Delaware supplying the company and building the Energy Servers that can power homes and businesses around the country. It’s always been true that Delaware works best when it works together, and that was true in how Bloom came to choose Delaware.
It was about our Congressional Delegation making clear that Delaware knows how to get to work. It was about the University of Delaware making clear that the old Chrysler site it now owns would be the perfect location for these high-tech careers. It was about our state agencies reacting quickly to make clear that when it comes to creating jobs, Delaware means business. And it was about our major utility company – Delmarva Power – making clear that it wanted to join some of the nation’s major businesses in becoming a Bloom Energy customer as well.
While there are regulatory approvals needed from the Public Service Commission and the legislature having to recognize fuel cells as a source of renewable energy, Delmarva can start adding over the next two years some 30 MW of Bloom Energy Servers’ reliable and consistent power to help power Delaware businesses and homes for less than the current cost of most other renewable energies. And with those approvals, Bloom Energy can get to work here in Delaware, getting more people working.
First – to build on the rubble of some of that old Chrysler site a new manufacturing facility that, by next year, would then put people to work. Hundreds of people in new jobs, building right here in Delaware technologies that can be exported. While there are still several steps before any of that can happen – Bloom’s choice of Delaware as the place to launch up to 1,500 new jobs between them and their suppliers is an important sign that Delaware, is moving forward.
