NEW YORK, Feb 22 (Reuters) - The former manufacturing
plant and headquarters financed by a controversial government
loan to the now bankrupt Solyndra LLC is up for sale and could
attract high-tech companies looking for new U.S. location.
The U.S. bankruptcy court in Delaware on Wednesday approved
the appointment of real estate services company Jones Lang
LaSalle Inc to market the Fremont, California building, which
cost more than $300 million and was completed in 2010, according
to court documents.
Greg Matter, vice president, Jones Lang LaSalle's Supply
Chain and Logistics Solutions team, declined to say how much the
building could fetch.
But another commercial real estate expert said it could go
for about $150 million.
Solyndra, which manufactured cylindrical solar panels, rose
to fame after President Barack Obama visited it in 2010, as part
of the administration's efforts to promote jobs in renewable
energy. Solyndra had received a $535 million federal loan
guarantee to build a factory in Fremont.
Solyndra's bankruptcy has been politically embarrassing for
the administration as Republican lawmakers jumped on it as an
example of failed energy policy and government waste leading up
to the 2012 presidential election.
Solyndra's facilities could benefit a company that needs an
utlra-clean environment such as makers of semiconductors or disc
drives.
The building, located on 30 acres in the southeast section
of the San Francisco Bay Area, comes with 31,000 square-feet, or
two floors of office space.
The high-tech manufacturing facility was built to withstand
an earthquake. It is serviced with 22 megawatts of power and
backed up by two diesel emergency generators, each with 2
megawatt capacity. It also is equipped with Solyndra solar
panels on the roof that can generate 1.2 megawatt of power.
The property includes plans that can expand the facility by
more than 200,000 square-feet, Jones Lang LaSalle said.
Jones Lang is expected to set up a Website,
www.solyndrabuilding.com, to market the property globally.
The bankruptcy case is In re Solyndra LLC, U.S. Bankruptcy
Court, District of Delaware, No. 11-12799.
For Solyndra: Bruce Grohsgal, Debra Grassgreen, Joshua Fried
and Maxim Litvak of Pachulski Stang Ziehl & Jones.
(Reporting by Ilaina Jonas; additional reporting by Roberta
Rampton)
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