Solar Panels To Top Cartersville Shaw Plant

About 1 megawatt of solar panels from SolarWorld, the largest U.S. manufacturer of solar technology for more than 35 years, soon will go live atop a carpet-tile manufacturing plant of Shaw Industries Group Inc. in Cartersville, according to the SolarWorld Industries America press release. The Cartersville solar power system, expected to be commissioned later this month, will contribute about 1.4 million kilowatt-hours of power into the Georgia Power utility grid, enough power to supply about 100 homes.

A solar solution provider that is top-ranked in its industry in terms of sustainability, SolarWorld produced the 3,700 270-watt solar panels for the Cartersville plant in Hillsboro, Ore., SolarWorld's U.S. headquarters. 

SolarWorld is an entirely vertically integrated manufacturer focusing exclusively on solar technology. SolarWorld's U.S. manufacturing lineage dates to 1975. 

A subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. headquartered in nearby Dalton, Shaw is the world's largest carpet manufacturer and a leading floor-covering provider. The company continuously advances its commitment to sustainable production and products worldwide.

"We at SolarWorld are delighted by this manufacturing connection," SolarWorld spokesman Ben Santarris said in the release. "Both companies recognize the profound advantages—in terms of business and sustainability—of our manufacturing and employment within the global economies where we operate most intensively as well as the sustainable commitment we make to each. It's a match literally made overhead—on the rooftop of a manufacturing plant in Georgia."

Paul Murray, vice president of sustainability and environmental affairs at Shaw, said, "Solar is a mature, reliable power source, and the economics made this a viable, long-term investment for this facility. SolarWorld has been a valuable partner in the process."

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