Apple plans to build a new manufacturing facility in Mesa, Arizona, Governor Jan Brewer announced today. The move will bring at least 700 "quality" jobs to Arizona during the facility's first year, and state officials also expect 1,300 or so positions in construction and associated fields to be created as a result of the project. "Apple is indisputably one of the world's most innovative companies and I'm thrilled to welcome them to Arizona," Brewer said. "Apple will have an incredibly positive economic impact for Arizona and its decision to locate here speaks volumes about the friendly, pro-business climate we have been creating these past four years."

Aside from creating new job opportunities for Arizonans, Apple has also committed to advancing green technology in the state. "Their investment in renewable energy will also be greening our power grid, and creating significant new solar and geothermal power sources for the state," Brewer said. In a statement to Pocket-lint, Apple confirmed that the new plant will "make components for Apple products" and the company has also pledged that its latest facility will "run on 100 percent renewable energy from day one." It's obviously too early to tell which products will be manufactured at the Mesa facility, but we do know that sapphire production will be a major focus. Apple has recently taken new strides to bring some of its hardware operations back to US shores; the company's upcoming Mac Pro desktop computer is assembled within the United States.