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Friday, April 30 2010 - 09:50 AM
BYD chooses a home
Shockingly enough, it’s not Lancaster. Instead they chose a city that has both a port and a major international airport.
http://www.dailynews.com/news/ci_14988395?source=rss
In a major coup for Los Angeles, a Chinese solar energy and automobile firm announced Thursday it will locate its U.S. headquarters here, potentially creating hundreds of new jobs.
BYD, a manufacturer of batteries and electric-hybrid vehicles that is partly owned by billionaire Warren Buffett, said it selected Los Angeles to be its U.S. base after reviewing offers from other California cities.
The initial plans call for locating the new headquarters at 1800 S. Figueroa St., at a site that once served as a car dealership.
Beyond that, company chairman Wang Chuan-fu said the firm plans to emphasize green energy efforts, including the development of low-cost solar panels for houses.
Full story at the link above——-
No Spin says...
CA
There are SOME in here who would prefer this plant be built in LA, because if the choice was Lancaster, they would actually have to give Rex credit for something..
Sad…
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avbornbred says...
Years ago, I believe it was Runner, was promoting the building of an inland port system here in the desert. With the airport and the building of a huge rail center, commerce could come and go from the AV by rail, trucking, and air.
Since LA cannot expand its rail yards due to the lack of space, the AV has a abundant amount of land and the existing infrastructure to support such a plan. With a huge rail center here, maybe an automotive giant would consider building a plant in the AV. Low cost of land, plenty of workers, and a inland port to move the products.
Even though I am not sold on Wind and Solar, it is probably another source of jobs for the AV.
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AV Town Crier says...
The Chinese turned down King Rex because of Lancaster’s lack of democracy.
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No Spin says...
Crier.
Really?? I must have missed that article..
Is it on your “BashRexParris.com” site?
Would love to see the evidence..
Thanks..
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No Spin says...
Wind and Solar are GREAT IDEAS as additions to fuels.. But horrible ideas as a replacement..
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No Spin says...
Does anyone know the REAL reasons given for the LA Choice versus Lancaster?
The TRUE information is important to understand in order to possibly alter the issues and make additional attempts to attract others to Lancaster..
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AV Town Crier says...
No Spin: Read the blog—it came from Daily news. I just added my two cents ;]
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No Spin says...
Ok, read it.
Where is the part in the article that suggests the Chinese turned down King Rex because of Lancaster’s lack of democracy.
Or is that YOUR unbiased and fact based opinion?
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No Spin says...
Only Lancaster mention in the article, (unless I am missing something here), is:
“Two weeks ago, BYD announced a partnership with KB Homes to build low-energy homes in Lancaster that would be equipped with solar panels and batteries. "
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AV Town Crier says...
Clearly Spin, my comments are tongue and cheek. geez! Lighten up. I’m just having fun at King Rex’s expense.
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No Spin says...
Thought you were a credible news source and your website a serous site?
Am I incorrect?
Sorry, Did not see the “Tongue and Cheek” theme of your “King Rex or Lack of democracy” comments about my City..
My bad..
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AV Town Crier says...
Most articles are labeled with my by line as ‘news and commentary’.
I tend to present news from the way I see it. I find it hard to be able to cover the news and remain neutral.
I am a human being (though, I have been accused of being less than) and I report it as it affects me. the way I see it.
I don’t expect you, or anyone to agree with me 100%. i just want you to give the matters some thought and draw your own conclusions.
If I covered the news from a totally straight perspective, what would separate the AV Town Crier from the AV Press?
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islander says...
Read the article.
Sounds like they are moving their HQ and solar to LA first; what it did not say was where the auto plant would be located. The auto plant is step three this move is only the first step. the article did mention Van Buys and South Gate but I would guess Lancaster is still in the running because I heard that Rex was on his way back to China. I could be wrong, but only time will tell.
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scdyne says...
It’s like Plinko.. or pachinko (asian reference) in that there are a number of cities in the running to be the site for BYD.
I too would hope that Lancaster would be picked and see it as a hardy candidate having more to offer than just bodies to fill the factory floor. I think the fix is in and honestly feel that the Antelope Valley is the best location for the factory. Location, space, resources, and walmart.
At least the employees will feel at home shopping at all the WalMarts filled with Chinese manufactured merchandise.
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Denise_Latanzi says...
BYD has not committed at ALL to bringing an auto manufacturing plant to the US, and is already delayed several times its European launch. If you read the “green car” newsletters, you’d know that the type of car that BYD builds is not currently all that practical here in the states because of the lack of supporting charging systems. To say that a car plant is “step 3” is wildly disengenuous, BYD has never committed to building ANY cars outside of china EXCEPT for the cars already contracted to Daimler, which will be built in Europe.
In Short, BYD chose Los Angeles for exactly the same reasons given to me by an official in Long Beach way back in March. Los Angeles has a major international airport and a sea port for importing goods from China. A small to mid-sized manufacturing plant for SOLAR PANELS will be part of the package that goes to Los Angeles, and that will create somewhere around 200 jobs, not the thousands or tens of thousands of jobs alluded to by our mayor. Also, exactly as told to me back in March by a Long Beach official.
This is what I KNOW, and have known since MARCH. BYD in March had already committed to buying 2 pieces of property, one in Los Angeles, one in Long Beach.
So, not only did I read the article, I’ve spent a lot of time talking to people who have been involved, in one way or another, in negotiations with BYD.
There is not one person in the AV that does not want jobs to come here, which is all the more reason to hold our elected officials to a standard of honesty and integrity. It’s hard not to point to the responsible way Palmdale conducts themselves in this regard. Hundreds of new jobs at the Hospital, another 150 or so at the new Macy’s, none of them announced as fact until AFTER it was a done deal. It’s not an unusual standard that Palmdale follows, you don’t make promises you can not deliver on, and you don’t run your mouth before you’ve got signatures on the dotted line because its competitive out there.
In the case of BYD, there are a lot of unhappy cities with the late news yesterday. Cities like Portland, who has been negotiating with BYD since 2007. There has been a lot of finger pointing in Portland because some there feel, and with good reason, that part of the reason they lost BYD for now is because they leaked to the media 2 years ago that they were speaking to the company, essentially attracting competition from other cities who had never even heard of the company until them. It was the perfect example of “loose lips sink ships”.
Lancaster may in fact still see some benefit from LA based BYD. The future of housing will be energy efficient models, and this is the perfect place to build them. Anytime you add a new layer to construction, you create new jobs installing solar panels, batteries and converters. Its not going to be the thousands promised, but as long as the jobs are kept in the hands of skilled workers, they will be good jobs.
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whomeye says...
Looks like LA’s mayor did a better job wining and dining BYD at his home.
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No Spin says...
Lancaster –
BEX – Hired over 100 people
Movie Theatres – Will hire at least 50
This constant back and forth about Palmdale versus Lancaster get’s old..
I think both communities are doing what they can to survive.. Is every move going to work? Nope..
But, at least in both cities, the attempts are being made..
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No Spin says...
Thought you were in the KNOW lamecaster? How did you not KNOW that the construction by LPAC was a movie theater?
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islander says...
Denise you said "To say that a car plant is “step 3” is wildly disengenuous, BYD has never committed to building ANY cars outside of china EXCEPT for the cars already contracted to Daimler, which will be built in Europe.
The article stated, “First is developing low-cost solar panels, second is growing throughout the country and third is the prospect of assembling electric-hybrid cars in the United States.”
So how is what I wrote “wildly disengenuous.” You hanging out with Vicky and smoking some of her dope?
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islander says...
The theater will also have a bookstore.
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islander says...
Quote for the article
“BYD stands for build your dreams,” Wang said through an interpreter. “We have three dreams for here.”
First is developing low-cost solar panels, second is growing throughout the country and third is the prospect of assembling electric-hybrid cars in the United States.
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islander says...
Don’t know the name but it’s a bookstore with 3 theaters that seat about 30 people each. Foreign, documentary and different type films and will have tables and serve dinner.
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lancaster says...
hey dontno, islander just accused denise of being a pot somoker.
i’ll just kick it while u give him shit for TRYING TO DESTROY A PERSONS LIFE IN HERE. LOL
hypocrite!
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No Spin says...
lamecaster,
Like I posted earlier,
My comments were designed to ask you to please stop spreading lies, creating rumors and using innuendo to destroy people. And you have refused as expected.
Now your counter attack will be to assault me whenever I do not come in here and defend every single post you consider equal to what you do..
So here we go… post after post after post from you calling me a hypocrite, attacking me every chance you get instead of trying to alter your style..
But that’s OK because it just reinforces the absolute truth as to who you are and what you are all about..
Enjoy your evening..
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Denise_Latanzi says...
Sorry “islander”, the only one that is high in here is you.
What we know is not a “prospect” but is fact is that during the election, voters here got told a whole bunch of wild things. They were promised “hundreds” of new jobs, then “3000” new jobs, then “10,000” new jobs when BYD came here.
What they got are 3 demo solar homes that KB would have built anyway, just not with solar.
I’ll even make you a little bet.. I’ll bet in 2 years not only is there no auto manufacturing plant here, but no talk of one, and no one acting like they ever talked about one.
I have to admit though, I suddenly developed a big interest in electric cars during the election, specifically the type of cars BYD produces, and I have read a lot about why building them, or even importing them for sale in the US, is not anywhere close to practical right now, nor will it be anytime soon.
When I told my friend the elected in Long Beach, who has been talking with BYD for way longer than anyone in Lancaster, about the mayors promise to the electorate to bring a huge auto manufacturing plant here from BYD, he laughed.. literally laughed. Then he asked if we had any investigative reporters up here fact checking the mayor.. LOL!
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islander says...
Then I wake up to the AV Press this morning. Need to talk more to your elected Long Beach friend. As I said “only time will tell.”
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islander says...
If Lancaster is successful in bring BYD here Denise and the dems will still complain because that’s all they know how to do. They will say, "Rex is making millions, as is Mark, and they will demonize them as they have done to the Runners, Gilley and Frank. Without people that have a vision for what can be done nothing would get done.
Lancaster is changing-changing for the better!
There is hope!
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Randy Hall says...
Glad you’re happy Denise when Lancaster gets bypassed. Way to go, showing your loyality to our city.
CJ, and lanc that was sarcastic and meant to be.
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Antelope Valley Independent says...
Denise you lost by 3,000 votes. You just aren’t smart enough to be a political strategist, but that doesn’t mean you have to spend the rest of you life as the town gossip. Lose some weight, join a gym, walk with mayor. Make something of yourself. You still have time.
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newstoday says...
We carried the story yesterday. This a great for California and The City of Lancaster will hopefully benefit from our cities hard work in this area.
We should all try and help.
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scdyne says...
Personally this whole BYD thing annoys me. There are a number of American, heck California companies that would be very interested in manufacturing batteries, high discharge compactors, and electric vehicles here, but the EPA, CARB and the state of California have made it all but impossible. So it makes me wonder why a Chinese company would open a factory in the USA and specifically California where the business and environmental regulations are so strict? The way I see it, the State may be willing to look the other way when it comes to regulation of the waste because it’s BYD in BFE.
So we need to be very careful in welcoming them to the Antelope Valley and California because the governors willingness to fast track the EIRs could lead to the destruction of our water supply, fresh air and blue skies.
I’m not generally a enviro nut, but in this case I would rather take the slow path to a green solution over the fast path to a dead community.
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lancaster says...
anyone see the article yesterday concerning chinas defective material used in military heat flares, used to attract heat seeking missiles? appears the main component from china was such a lower quality that 42 mil in product had to be destroyed.
scd is right. we need to start doing for ourselves again.
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lancaster says...
avi
if denise lost any weight she would be a poster child for malnutrition.
i’m starting to believe u’v never met her.
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Denise_Latanzi says...
Oh, I am not happy at all when Lancaster gets “bypassed”, but first they have to really be in the game.
scdyne sort of hit the name on the head here. There have been plenty of stories in publications that support “green job” growth about BYD. Particularly about why their batteries can not be manufactured in the states and the reasons why a manufacturing plant or even the import of the type of cars they build is not practical here, yet.
At some point though, politicians that make these incredible statements during elections should be held responsible for their dishonesty. The ONE thing the articles make very clear is that even if Lancaster HAD been truly in the running for BYD, the number of jobs promised by the Mayor was fanciful at best, an outright lie at worst.
There are PLENTY of companies looking to relocate, even in Southern California. 2 of them that I am aware of just chose Palmdale to be their home.
What irritates the heck out of me is that I also know of 2 Lancaster based businesses who recently had to LAY OFF employees because of the actions of a council member. 1 lost a $30,000 contract because their SFV based customer (own by Orthdox Jews) did not want to do business in a city where they were not welcome and where their employees felt uncomfortable.
The other company, which does business with medical groups all over the state, lost a boatload of business when their Los Angeles based competitor sent copies of AV press and Daily news stories to a bunch of their customers, because it turns out there are a bunch of medical practices in California that are Jewish or Muslim owned.
Lancaster, AVI is used to dealing with the type of person who is shallow and insecure enough to be crushed at the mere mention of the word “fat”. It just goes to show you that while “fat” is curable, stupidity is not, so he’s stuck with what he is for life.
We can just hope that the cities development plan does not include any more Wal-Mart’s…
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CASimons says...
This does not mean that they are not finished with their decision making process. They are still contemplating sites for their manufacturing plant.
Does hope stop springing eternal on this site? Or does it just die a toxic death of woe?
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