International clean energy company Enel wants to build a solar panel manufacturing facility in Oklahoma, and Gov. Kevin State is asking state lawmakers to back an undisclosed stimulus package to seal the deal.
Enel North America is eyeing the port of Tulsa of Inola as a potential location for the plant, which will create an estimated 1,500 jobs.
Oklahoma is a prime candidate to land the facility and that Enel is “excited about the potential to expand our presence in the state,” said Giovanni Bertolino, Enel North America’s 3Sun USA president of solar panels. the border in the current situation.
State told a group of visitors to the Oklahoma Capitol on Wednesday that the state was “one in line” for a major economic development deal, but that he needed the legislature on board to make it happen.
“These guys are ready to go,” said Stitt. the border after the speech. “Sometimes, as we get into May, things are kind of tied to other things and I wish that wasn’t the case, but that’s the nature of politics.”
State economic development officials called the effort to hire Enel “Project Sirius”.
Senate Pro Tempore Greg Treat said landing the company would require a smaller stimulus package, but it’s similar to the $698 million package the state offered to previous companies. Treatment declined to go into further detail about specific amounts or terms of any deal. He said the Senate leadership supports the plan and sent a letter to State reinforcing that sentiment on Wednesday.
The terms of the deal must be approved by the legislature and signed off by the governor. The soonest that could happen would be next week.
A row over tax cuts brought things to a standstill. House Speaker Charles McCall, R-Atuka, said the House needs tax cuts to give Ennell incentives, while the Senate does not want tax cuts.
McCall said the House is willing to help the governor and do what’s necessary to bring Enel down, but he “sees the tax cuts or some relief necessary for the people of Oklahoma,” and if the state were to approve stimulus packages for big business, “they can’t forget the everyday taxpayer.”
But the Senate leadership has made clear that they do not want to cut taxes this year and want to see the stimulus pass on their own.
“We will not approve any other unrelated bill to accomplish this,” said Treat. “We agree to have an economic development project and do whatever it takes, but there are no minor issues associated with it.”
State spoke to the House Republican Caucus in a closed-door emergency meeting Thursday morning to work out details of the stimulus for Enel.
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