James City County's EDA announced this summer the $2.4 million sale of its 60,000-square foot industrial shell building in Stonehouse Commerce Park to BP Solar. The building will house BP Solar's new Thin Film Solar Energy World Center of Excellence. BP is the world's largest manufacturer of solar panels, which are used in generating electricity.

In 1996, BP Solar opened an 80,000-square foot facility in Stonehouse Commerce Park across the street from the shell building. Their purchase of the shell building represents an expansion involving a $4.1 million capital investment. The new facility will bring 35 new R and D technology jobs to Stonehouse Commerce Park.

Built in 1995, the shell building helped attract nearly one-half million square feet of new under-roof industrial space, more than 600 new jobs, and capital investment totaling in excess of $75 million to Stonehouse Commerce Park. Due to the success of the first shell building, the EDA is engaging the services of a consultant to study the feasibility of building a second shell building.