Sencera to Build 35 Megawatt Solar Module Factory in Charlotte, North Carolina

CHARLOTTE, N.C.--(Business Wire)--
Sencera International Corporation, a manufacturer of thin film
solar (photovoltaic) modules is expanding in Charlotte. The company
plans to invest $36.8 million and create 65 jobs during the next three
years. It was made possible in part by a $62,000 One North Carolina
Fund grant as well as local incentives from the City of Charlotte and
Mecklenburg County.

Sencera, which is headquartered in Charlotte, develops and
manufactures amorphous and microcrystalline thin film solar modules
using its proprietary Viper plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition
platform. The company also operates a research and development
laboratory serving the solar energy industry. The company, with 10
employees, is planning to construct a solar module facility that will
produce solar cells and assemble them into photovoltaic panels. Total
manufacturing capacity will exceed 38 megawatts by 2011. Sencera's
headquarters and present operations will move to the new facility.

"Sencera, a high tech company performing critical work in the
pursuit of alternative energy, is just the kind of prospect we would
target," said Kit Cramer, VP of Economic Development for the Charlotte
Chamber, who worked on retaining the company. "They product a
cutting-edge product using highly skilled labor and are on the
forefront of growth in their field. It is to everyone's advantage that
we could keep them in Charlotte."

Salaries for the 65 new positions will vary by job type, but the
average annual wage will be $73,462 not including benefits,
substantially more than the Mecklenburg County average.

"We considered several different states and foreign countries.
We're glad we can remain in Charlotte. The Charlotte Chamber was
extremely helpful in shepherding us through this process," said Britt
Weaver, COO of Sencera, "We're grateful that our state and local
public officials recognize the potential of both our company and what
the solar industry brings to the city of Charlotte and North
Carolina."

The One North Carolina Fund assists the state in industry
recruitment and expansion by providing financial incentives to attract
business projects that will stimulate economic activity and create new
jobs in the state. One North Carolina Fund Grants require and are
contingent upon local matching funds. Over a three-year period the
City of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County match is projected to be a
total of $1,039,721, which represents 90% of what the company will pay
in property taxes during that time. Other partners that helped make
this announcement possible include the Charlotte Regional Partnership,
the local NC Department of Commerce office and Duke Energy. For more
information about the company, including employment opportunities,
visit the company's web site at http://www.sencera.com/.

Sencera International
Britt Weaver, 704-393-1951
Chief Operating Officer
Britt.weaver@sencera.com
or
Charlotte Chamber
Kit Cramer, 704-378-1301
Vice President, Economic Development
kcramer@charlottechamber.com

Copyright Business Wire 2008