The United States is becoming a hot bed of solar manufacturing activity, no pun intended. And it’s not only the American companies that are enjoying the perks of being a cleantech and renewable energy concern.

Companies based in other countries are getting in on the action too. The Green Wombat reports:

German solar company Schott on Monday cut the ribbon on a $100 million factory in Albuquerque, N.M., that will produce solar panels as well as receivers for solar trough power plants. Meanwhile, Chinese solar giant Suntech said Monday that it will build a solar cell manufacturing plant in the United States.

Schott‘s new plant is creating 350 “green collar” jobs, but that’s just the start. The company, which makes photovoltaic modules–solar panels to you and me–and tubes for solar concentrators plans to increase that headcount to 1,500 over the long term and build out the plant to 800,000 square feet from 200,000 today.

Suntech is weighing its options, undoubtedly deciding on which state(s) offer the best incentives. A decision is expected in the next six months.

If you’re a victim of the Great Recession, sounds like a good time to dust off that resume and see what the sun has in store…