Brown: Special session to debate incentives for solar panel plant

LOWNDES COUNTY — A Mississippi lawmaker says Friday’s special session includes incentives to bring a California-based company to Lowndes County.

Republican Sen. Terry Brown of Columbus tells The Associated Press he has been briefed by local development officials about plans by Calisolar to open a manufacturing plant that would create 900 jobs.

The company uses silicon to make cells that are used in energy-producing solar panels.

The Commercial Dispatch first reported Monday that there had been local speculation about Calisolar coming to Columbus.

Brown tells AP that the new jobs could pay $40,000 to $50,000 a year. Ohio had been competing for the project.

Calisolar officials did not immediately return calls to AP today.

Gov. Haley Barbour this afternoon will announce specific projects to be considered during the session.