February 26, 2010
February 26, 2010
In radio address, governor says state, Dow partnership key to creating up to 6,900 new jobs
LANSING - In her weekly radio address, Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today said that this was a great week for Michigan and the Dow Chemical Company, with Dow announcing three clean-energy projects in Michigan that will create up to 6,900 new jobs.
"Dow announced a combined investment of almost $1.3 billion in three clean-energy projects that'll create thousands of new jobs in our state," Granholm said. "And these three projects came to fruition through Dow and the state of Michigan working together to achieve our mutual goals of diversification of the economy and job-creation."
The governor said Dow announced it will manufacture its new DOW™POWERHOUSE™ Solar Shingle in Midland.
"This is a revolutionary product," Granholm said. "It's a solar panel that looks like a shingle. The Powerhouse solar shingle will create 1,275 new jobs at Dow, with the potential for another 425, plus an estimated 4,400 spin-off jobs."
Also this week, a state advanced-battery tax credit was awarded to Dow Kokam to support advanced-battery manufacturing, creating up to 800 new jobs. And Dow was designated as the state's seventh Center of Energy Excellence.
"Dow's Center of Energy Excellence will focus on developing low-cost carbon fiber materials for products like advanced wind turbine blades," Granholm said.
"The three Dow clean-energy projects announced this week - all supported with targeted state incentives designed to diversify Michigan's economy - will create up to 2,500 new jobs at Dow and an estimated 4,400 spin-off jobs," Granholm said. "Through partnerships like the one between Dow and state government, we are helping transform Michigan into the nation's center for clean- energy manufacturing and create thousands of jobs for Michigan workers."
The governor's weekly radio address is released each Friday and may be heard on broadcast stations across the state. The address is available for download on the governor's Web site at www.michigan.gov/gov together with a clip of the quote above. The radio address also is available as a podcast on the Web site as well as on iTunes and via RSS feed for general distribution to personal MP3 players and home computers. Links to the audio files and text of today's address follow.
Governor Jennifer M. Granholm
Radio Address - Dow
Full: http://www.michigan.gov/documents/gov/Gov238Full_312655_7.mp3
Edited: http://www.michigan.gov/documents/gov/Gov238Edit_312656_7.mp3
Quote: http://www.michigan.gov/documents/gov/Gov238Quote_312657_7.mp3
Hello, this is Governor Jennifer Granholm.
This was a great week for Michigan and the Dow Chemical Company.
Dow is a Michigan company headquartered in Midland, and it announced a combined investment of almost $1.3 billion in three clean-energy projects that'll create thousands of new jobs in our state - in wind, in solar and in batteries. And these three projects came to fruition through Dow and the state of Michigan working together to achieve our mutual goals of diversification of the economy and job creation.
First, Dow announced that it will manufacture its new Powerhouse solar shingle in Midland. This is a revolutionary product. It's a solar panel that looks like a shingle. The Powerhouse solar shingle will crate 1,275 new jobs at Dow, with the potential for another 425, plus an estimated 4,400 spin-off jobs.
Dow's announcement that it would produce its Powerhouse shingle in Midland was the culmination of 18 months of collaboration between the state and Dow to help the company diversify into clean energy. Dow has facilities in 23 states and 51 countries and really could have chosen any one of them to manufacture this exciting new product. But by state government partnering with Dow, the Powerhouse solar shingle is going to be made right here in Michigan.
The second Dow project involves advanced-battery production. This week, a state advanced-battery tax credit was awarded to a Dow joint venture - Dow Kokam - to support the manufacture of cells and batteries for electric and hybrid vehicles. About $670 million has been invested in Dow Kokam's Midland facility. And up to 800 new jobs will be created - Michigan jobs for Michigan workers.
The third piece of good news this week was that Dow is being designated as the state's seventh Center of Energy Excellence.
Michigan's Centers of Energy Excellence, with the assistance of state grants, enable innovative companies like Dow to partner with our world-class universities and research centers to accelerate the commercialization, the selling of clean-energy technologies.
Dow's Center of Energy Excellence will focus on developing low-cost carbon fiber materials for products like advanced wind turbine blades. The challenge with wind turbine blades is making them lighter and stronger. This is an opportunity for Dow to find a solution that can be used throughout the wind-energy industry.
The three Dow clean-energy projects announced this week - all supported with targeted state incentives designed to diversify Michigan's economy - will create up to 2,500 new jobs at Dow and an estimated 4,400 spin-off jobs. Through partnerships like the one between Dow and state government, we are helping transform Michigan into the nation's center for clean-energy manufacturing and create thousands of jobs for Michigan workers.
Thank you for listening.
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