ARLINGTON — OutBack Power Technologies’ official grand opening in the Arlington Advanced Manufacturing Park on Thursday, Aug. 22, is set to be attended by not only Arlington Mayor Barbara Tolbert, but also Washington state Gov. Jay Inslee.
OutBack Power, a designer and manufacturer of renewable energy electronics, currently employs an estimated 70 people, and they expect to hire 20 more employees by the end of this year, in response to the increased interest they’ve seen in renewable energy.
Representatives for OutBack Power, a recipient of Seattle Business Magazine’s Silver Award for 2013 Emerging Manufacturer of the Year, reported that their expansion into their new 42,000-square-foot facility coincides with a soaring demand for solar power.
The solar power market employs more than 120,000 Americans, and Washington state ranks 10th in the country for solar employment.
OutBack Power is a member of the Alpha Group of companies, which employ more than 2,000 employees worldwide, with 445 based in Washington. Outback will house its certificate training program in its new facility. The program’s three-day curriculum has been approved by the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners, and has been written to equip electrical contractors and solar installers with the training and accreditation to compete in the solar design and installation field.
“We have called on all Washingtonians to step up to the responsibility of addressing climate change, and to harness the economic opportunities offered by clean energy,” Inslee said. “It’s exciting to see companies such as OutBack Power creating jobs today, while also preparing the next generation of workers with skills needed to master energy storage and other technologies tied to an increasingly smarter electricity grid.”
“The support of the governor, the mayor, the Washington State Department of Commerce and Economic Alliance of Snohomish County has been instrumental in helping OutBack create jobs right here in Washington state,” said Harvey Wilkinson, general manager of OutBack Power. “Our move into a larger facility better positions us to hire talented employees, design and test new products, train electrical and energy professionals in grid-smart technologies, and support and promote more environmentally friendly living.”
For more information, log onto www.outbackpower.com, or follow OutBack Power on Facebook at http://on.fb.me/X6fQJl or on Twitter at http://bit.ly/WmhFhs.
