Spire to Expand UNICOR Solar Module Manufacturing to 75 Megawatts

• Press Release
• Source: Spire Corporation
• On 9:00 am EDT, Wednesday October 14, 2009

BEDFORD, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Spire Corporation (Nasdaq: SPIR - News), a global solar company providing turnkey solar factories and capital equipment to manufacture photovoltaic (PV) modules and systems worldwide, today announced it has entered an agreement with UNICOR – Federal Prison Industries, Inc. (UNICOR) to expand their current 25 megawatt (MW) module manufacturing capacity by the addition of a 50MW module manufacturing line to be located in Sheridan, Oregon.

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UNICOR is a wholly-owned government corporation that is authorized to operate industries, such as solar PV factories, in federal correctional institutions throughout the United States. Spire’s module manufacturing allows inmates to gain substantial “green-collar” knowledge that is highly desired by employers. By expanding to a 75MW capacity, nearly 500 jobs have been created by Spire, which ultimately provides approximately 300 inmates with marketable job skills.

Spire and UNICOR have a strong relationship. Not only does Spire supply UNICOR with solar cells for the Spire-installed turnkey PV module factory in Otisville, New York, but the two companies recently entered into a teaming agreement for Federal Solar Systems. This collaboration strengthens Spire’s presence in the federal market and provides UNICOR with the engineering support needed to provide quality systems to their customer base.

“Spire is widely known for putting new companies into the solar PV business, but also known for allowing a company to evolve with the growth of their needs and the growth of the market,” said Roger G. Little, Chairman and CEO of Spire Corporation. “UNICOR demonstrated this by transitioning from an entry-level factory, to become an even more successful and higher capacity facility.”

UNICOR’s Julie Rozier, Public Information Officer said, “We look forward to working with Spire as we expand our operation. Spire’s module manufacturing lines provide a renewable energy source for our customers, and offers constructive, technical training and job skills experience for inmates.”

UNICOR - Federal Prison Industries, Inc.

UNICOR is a self-sustaining corporation, established in 1934, operating at no cost to the taxpayer, to provide voluntary, real world, work programming for federal inmates. An integral part of the Bureau of Prisons, UNICOR contributes to the safety and security of our Nation’s Federal Correctional Facilities by keeping inmates constructively occupied; produces market-priced, quality goods and services for sale to the Federal Government; studies indicate program participants are 24% less likely to recidivate, and are 14% more likely to be gainfully employed upon re-entry into society.

About Spire Corporation

Spire Corporation is a global solar company providing turnkey production lines and capital equipment to manufacture PV modules and systems worldwide. Spire Semiconductor provides processing technology for Spire’s silicon solar cell manufacturing lines and produces and sells custom gallium arsenide cells for solar concentrator systems. For corporate or product information, contact Spire Corporation, “The Turnkey Solar Factory Company,” at 781-275-6000, or visit www.spirecorp.com.

Certain matters described in this news release may be forward-looking statements subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the risk of dependence on market growth, competition and dependence on government agencies and other third parties for funding contract research and services, as well as other factors described in the Company's Form 10-K and other periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Spire Corporation
Roger G Little, 781-275-6000
Chairman & CEO