Facilities will employ thousands in assembly of wind turbines, solar panels, batteries

he White House announced today the award of $238 million in tax credits for 13 clean energy manufacturing projects across Michigan.  The tax credits were created by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act which was signed into law last year.  Congressman Levin joined the rest of the Michigan delegation in a letter of support, available here, for applications of Michigan facilities.

“By unleashing private capital, the tax credits announced today will boost American clean energy manufacturing, create thousands of jobs, and take us further down the road to energy independence,” said Rep. Levin.  “The countries who lead in clean energy development and manufacturing will be the same countries who lead the global economy in the next decade so it’s vital that we have a robust public-private partnership.”

The tax credits, worth thirty percent of each planned project, will be claimed by the selected companies when their proposed facility is placed into service.  Nationally, $2.3 billion in tax credits were awarded for 183 projects and will leverage private capital for a total investment of nearly $7.7 billion in high-tech manufacturing in the United States. 

Because the program generated far more interest than anticipated the Administration has called for an additional $5 billion in tax credits.  The program was oversubscribed by a ratio of more than 3 to 1, reflecting a deep pipeline of high quality clean energy manufacturing opportunities and substantial interest from private investors.

“I look forward to working with the Administration and my colleagues in Congress to support this and other initiatives to create jobs.  Doing more to create jobs and spur recovery has to be our top priority in the New Year,” Rep. Levin concluded.

Michigan Recipients of Recovery Act Section 48c Tax Credits

Hemlock Semiconductor Corp. – $141.8 million – Hemlock Semiconductor will expand a manufacturing plant that produces polycrystalline-silicon used in the production of solar panels.  The plants, when fully operational, will produce 19,200 metric tons per year.

Dow Corning - Solar Silane – $27.3 million – Dow Corning - Solar Silane will build a new monosilane facility with 60% of production dedicated to the solar PV market. Monosilane is a key component in the production of amorphous thin-film solar panels.

Great Lakes Industry, Inc – $1.3 million – Great Lakes Industry will manufacture component precision gears for multi-megawatt wind turbine gearboxes. Nearly all multi-megawatt wind turbines use highly efficient gearboxes to drive electrical generator(s) inside the turbine nacelle.

Guardian Industries Corp – $2.7 million – Guardian Industries will expand production for an existing facility to produce unique low iron pattern glass used in solar applications. Once completed, this facility would be the only US owned manufacturer of solar low iron pattern glass in North America and would enable the production of more than 600MW of crystalline silicon modules

ilumisys, Inc. – $1.3 million – ilumisys will automate manufacture of LED replacements for fluorescent lighting.

Merrill Technologies Group – $22 million – Merrill Technologies Group will invest $73 million in advanced manufacturing equipment to support the production of nacelles for Northern Power's new 2.2 MW utillity-scale wind turbine. Project will progress through prototype and pilot phases into serial production.

Rogers Foam Automotive Corporation – $300,000 – Rogers Foam Automotive Corporation will manufacture a component to be used in the thermal management system of Lithium Ion Battery assemblies for electrical vehicles.  This sub-component consists of an outer gasket, which locates the component in the assembly, a multi-layer pressure conformable membrane, which provides the constant pressure and a bonding agent, which attaches the outer gasket and membrane.  The resulting product will aid domestic battery manufacturing for electric vehicles.

Stirling Energy Systems, Inc – $9.8 million – Stirling Energy Systems, Inc will produce Azimuth drives used to track the sun for the SunCatcher, a 25 kW solar dish.  The resulting technologies will aid Solar Concentrating Solar Power industry domestically.

The Dow Chemical Company – $17.8 million – Dow will produce photovoltaic cells built into residential and commercial roofing and siding products.  Dow's technology imbeds solar cells into shingles, sidings, and other materials, enabling lower production and installation costs.

United Solar Ovonic, LLC – $11 million – United Solar Ovonic will upgrade technology at existing facilities to improve the efficiency of solar laminates and increase factory throughput capacity.

Ven Tower Industries – $2.5 million – Ven Tower will diversify into wind turbine component manufacturing.