President Joe Biden reacts to Oklahoma Enel announcement

Governor Kevin Stitt released details on the largest economic development in state history Monday morning.

Enel North America plans to locate one of the largest solar photovoltaic cell and panel manufacturing facilities in the U.S. to the Tulsa Port of Inola in Rogers County.

Enel Corporation has already filed permits with the Department of Environmental Quality.

The Governor says the size of the $1 billion project will surpass the Google facility in Pryor.

The plant is expected to create around 1,000 new direct permanent jobs by 2025.

The project may include a second phase, creating an additional 900 new direct jobs.

Construction is expected to begin in the fall of 2023, subject to final approvals, necessary permits and economic incentive agreements.

The first panels will be available to the market by the end of 2024.

President Biden released this statement on the project:

“Today’s announcement from Enel is just the latest proof that my Investing in America agenda is working, and American manufacturing is back. Good-paying jobs that Americans can raise a family on are being created in towns and communities in every corner of the country.

“Because of my Inflation Reduction Act, private capital is being invested in Oklahoma and all across the country, as communities step up to help build our clean energy economy. These new investments should be an investment not just in manufacturing, but also in our middle class. Companies like Enel have the opportunity to hire the most highly skilled, dedicated, and engaged workers in the world - American union members. While Republicans in Congress try to defund our Investing in America agenda, we will stand with working families to keep those jobs here in states like Oklahoma. We’ll continue to bring every community along to participate in America’s manufacturing renaissance, powered by American workers, and we won’t let any community be left behind.”