Feb 4 2010
The Dow Chemical Company announced that it has identified Midland in Michigan to locate its full-scale manufacturing facility to produce its groundbreaking DOW POWERHOUSE Solar Shingle and it is subject to finalizing funding from local, state and federal agencies. Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm in her State of the State address talked about the site selection and said that this could create more than 1,200 jobs in the region.
Andrew N. Liveris, Dow Chairman and CEO, said that the company is happy to be provided with an opportunity to partner with Midland city, Michigan state and Governor Granholm to ensure support for technologies such as DOW POWERHOUSE Solar Shingle. He stressed the importance of collaboration between governments and businesses to overcome various challenges including energy. Being a leader in applied chemistry, Dow is capable of addressing technical challenges to provide affordable, renewable energy technologies to the market.
The manufacturing plant will produce photovoltaic solar panels that are in form of solar shingles. These solar shingles can be incorporated into rooftops along with standard asphalt shingles. Incentives up to $140 million are being considered by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) for the plant. Funding from local, state and federal agencies will help the company to speed up production plans.
The facility is expected to create more than 1,200 create jobs to support areas such as manufacturing, commercial and technical. The staffing for the project is expected to begin in late 2010. The solar shingles are anticipated to be available by mid-2010 in limited quantities and as the production ramps up, it is expected to be widely available in 2011.
Source: www.dowsolar.com