[magellan]

There's a big new jobs announcement coming Monday out of Hemlock Semiconductor. There will be simultaneous announcements here in Michigan and in Tennessee.

Hemlock Semiconductor is a division of Dow and is the world leader in polycrystalline silicon production for solar cell technology. Solar energy use is on fire right now in much of Europe (in case you hadn't heard).

Hemlock Semiconductor decision imminent - Saginaw, Michigan Business News - The Saginaw News – MLive.com

May be as large as a $1 Billion investment, most likely in the Saginaw area.

[Northman]

So are they expanding to both Mich. and Tenn., or is it going to be one or the other? Guess we'll know tomorrow, and hopefully it's Mich. We need it much more than Tenn. does.

[magellan]

Originally Posted by Northman

So are they expanding to both Mich. and Tenn., or is it going to be one or the other? Guess we'll know tomorrow, and hopefully it's Mich. We need it much more than Tenn. does.

Both. Simultaneous press conferences with both governors.

[Bluefly]

God, this is the type of industry Michigan really needs. Alternative energy - be it car batteries or solar panels. We have the infrastructure. We have the engineer-oriented workforce. Let's hope this is the beginning of a new economy for the twenty-first century.

[magellan]

Originally Posted by Bluefly

God, this is the type of industry Michigan really needs. Alternative energy - be it car batteries or solar panels. We have the infrastructure. We have the engineer-oriented workforce. Let's hope this is the beginning of a new economy for the twenty-first century.

Exactly. United Solar Ovonics is going gang-busters over here in West Michigan, with 2 plants built in Greenville North of GR (employing 400 already) and 4 more on the way, and a recently announced new set of plants in Battle Creek (I believe).

United Solar Ovonic Expanding - Expects to add 400 more jobs in Greenville
Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. - Energy Conversion Devices Selects Battle Creek Site for its Next 120-Megawatt Solar Cell Manufacturing Plant

There's also another international solar company that has been looking seriously at Kentwood South of Grand Rapids for a 1000 worker facility:

1,000 new jobs for West Michigan? - Latest News - The Grand Rapids Press - MLive.com

Carbon taxes and other energy policy initiatives in Europe and Asia (and even Israel) have created a boom in demand for solar and wind energy.

http://dotrose.com/misc/computer/sol...ages/38686.jpe
http://www.instablogsimages.com/imag...UMvkj_5784.jpg
http://www.german-renewable-energy.c...lar-power.html

Taxes and wages are very low here compared to much of Europe.

[magellan]

Financial Times of London seems to have spilled the beans early.

$1 Billion expansion of HSC's plant in Hemlock, MI, a new $1.2 Billion plant in Clarksville, TN, and a new $300 Million plant in Hemlock to make silane gas for thin-film solar cells. All to double their current output in the U.S.

FT.com / Companies / Industrial Goods - Solar demand to drive Hemlock output up 100%

[magellan]

More news this morning (with some other interesting solar developments in that area):

Hemlock Semiconductor to expand again in Saginaw County - Bay City Times - MLive.com

) $1 Billion expansion at its Saginaw Township site
) 300 new workers, average wage $46K/year.
) 1500 workers total at the site by 2011
) Construction to begin immediately, with 800 - 1200 construction workers through 2011
) Announcement of $800 Million more in expansion in either Saginaw or Clarksville coming in the next few years

Apparently the job cuts at Dow in Midland will not affect the expansion plans.

Great news for Saginaw! They certainly need it.

[Northman]

Great news, indeed. Nice to be talking positive for a change.

[merit1sje]

Sweet!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I knew I was headed in the right direction when I decided to go back to school and take courses in alternative energy. If this takes off like it should,(and like I think it should),this could be big for Michigan! It make me all warm and fuzzy inside just thinking about it.

[Bluefly]

Michigan needs to balance these big global alternative businesses with support for local supplier businesses and innovative entrepreneurs, perhaps like merit1sje. I can just imagine the Upper Midwestern states banding together to make themselves the place to go to work in alternative energy, and perhaps share in tax revenue so the whole region rises together to launch a new industrial revolution. That'd be much better than Toledo competing against Saginaw for business.