Tempe solar panel company reaching Australia deal

PHOENIX — A touch of Arizona may soon be coming to mining projects in Australia.

First Solar, the largest U.S. solar panel maker, is based in Tempe, Ariz., and Bloomberg reported that “the company expects to develop as much as 200 megawatts of capacity for the mining industry over the next three years.”

The company said that combining solar power with diesel would help resources companies, like the remote mining projects in Australia, save money on fuel costs. The company will also supply its energy modules to Australia’s auto parts industry.

First Solar is also “seeking deals in other regions including Saudi Arabia, India and South America.”