A $270 million investment is never something to be sneezed at, but First Solar’s plan to build a research and development center near their existing solar module manufacturing plant is a much more noteworthy decision than most development announcements.

Research and development is what drives the future of any industry. The massive First Solar plants in Perrysburg and Lake townships have already made Toledo a national leader in the solar-energy industry, and now the next generation of technology will be developed here.

Just as importantly, the manufacturing processes for the new research-driven innovations will be perfected on a pilot product line within the R&D center. The solar energy industry has averaged 33 percent annual growth over the last 10 years. There is now enough installed capacity to power 23 million homes.

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