Tulsa International Airport officials are working to finalize a deal with a Norwegian solar energy company to construct on airport property a $500 million manufacturing facility that would employ approximately 300 people.
Spencer Mitchell, director of economic incentives for Partner Tulsa, the city’s economic development arm, told city councilors on Wednesday that NorSun OK LLC would produce mono-crystalline silicon ingots and wafers for the global solar energy industry.
“They’re essentially the things that capture light within solar panels,” Mitchell said.
The manufacturing facility would be the company’s first investment in the United States, Mitchell said, and would create jobs with average annual wages of $62,000.
“We’ve been working with them for about a month or two,” Mitchell said. “We’re expecting a decision over the course of the next month. Hopefully, the next few weeks.”
People are also reading…
Mitchell noted that the NorSun project comes on the heels of last year’s announcement by the Italian company Enel North America that it plans to invest $1 billion to build a solar cell and manufacturing plant at the Port of Inola.
“So we’re very excited about this project,” Mitchell said.
Airport officials have been working to land the project for about a year. In March, the Tulsa Airports Improvement Trust approved an agreement with NorSun granting the company early access to proposed lease property east of Mingo Road and west of U.S. 169 “for the purpose of its due diligence.”
“We are excited to support such an impactful economic development project such as the one being proposed by NorSun,” said Daniel Regan, director of real estate and development at Tulsa Airports. “This facility would be the largest single private investment in airport history and continues a trend of infill development around Tulsa International Airport — one of the most important economic drivers for our region.”
Mitchell told councilors that NorSun is in negotiations with the Tulsa Airports Improvement Trust to finalize the lease agreement and that the trust “has also authorized a tax increment incentive for the company.”
Mayor G.T. Bynum said he was grateful for NorSun’s interest in investing in the community.
“I want to thank NorSun for working with our respective teams as they look to invest and support new jobs in Tulsa, which will create further opportunity for industry needs across the globe,” Bynum said. “I am personally excited about the future impact and direction this new development can have in Tulsa and the state of Oklahoma.”
City Councilor Crista Patrick, whose district includes the airport, said she is excited about the potential project.
“District 3 is really starting to dip their toe into solar power with the upcoming apartment complex that will be solar powered, and the BAZAR micro grocery will also be solar powered,” Patrick said. “So to have a solar plant that helps make the product that will help power those solar issues I think is pretty cool.
“Maybe District 3 will eventually be the alternative power capital of Tulsa.”
NorSun was established in 2005 and has a manufacturing facility in Ardal, Norway, according to the company’s website.
In October 2023, the company provided an update on its U.S. expansion plans on its website, saying the next major milestone for the project would be site selection.
“This is scheduled for Q1 2024,” the company said then.
NorSun OK LLC was formed in Delaware in April, according to the Oklahoma Secretary of State’s Office’s listing of companies doing business in Oklahoma.
NorSun officials were unavailable for comment on Friday.
Mitchell was before the City Council on Wednesday to seek its approval of a resolution supporting the city’s proposal to spend $1.2 million from its Economic Development Infrastructure Fund to support the project.
“Essentially, they will build the facility, and the city of Tulsa will inspect the public infrastructure that is required for the facility,” Mitchell said. “In this case, it’s a lot of storm water detention that they will be doing. But then also there are some roads and some kind of waterline connections, as well.
“Upon completion of the project and acceptance of the actual kind of improvements, then (city) finance will start verifying the cost and reimburse them up to $1.2 million.”
Mitchell stressed that approval of the resolution would not mean the deal is done.
“I’d expect the process to wrap up within the next month and hopefully touch base if we are selected as the site for their expansion,” Mitchell said.
The Tulsa World is where your story lives
The Tulsa World newsroom is committed to covering this community with curiosity, tenacity and depth. Our passion for telling the story of Tulsa remains unwavering. Because your story is our story. Thank you to our subscribers who support local journalism. Join them with limited-time offers at tulsaworld.com/story.
