Forrest County officials are enthusiastic about a proposal to build a solar-panel plant there.

Saturday’s Hattiesburg American reported that officials are confident that Stion, a California company, which announced earlier this month that it intends to locate a solar-panel production line in Hattiesburg, will be able to follow through on its plans.

David Hogan, president of the Forrest County Board of Supervisors, says Stion is a very, well-financed company, and he’s optimistic that this company is going to be a great economic boost to the area.

The company says it has not selected a final building site, but that it intended to begin production in 2012, ramping up to full capacity by 2015.

Stion’s plans projected a $500 million investment in the area that would create 1,000 jobs over the next six years.