New Midland, Michigan Facility to Produce DOW Powerhouse Solar Shingle
Source/Type: News - Staff reports

Author: CompoundSemi News Staff

June 6, 2011... The Dow Chemical Company has begun construction of a new manufacturing facility for its Powerhouse Solar Shingle in Midland, Michigan. The DOW Powerhouse Solar Shingle was designed as a roofing product that produces clean power from built-in solar cells.

“This new facility will increase production capacities of the DOW Powerhouse Solar Shingle and create advanced manufacturing jobs that are helping to make Michigan a ‘green tech’ hub of the new U.S. economy,” said Earl Shipp, Dow vice president for Michigan Operations.

According to Shipp, the manufacturing facility was brought to the region through continued collaboration between Dow, the State of Michigan and the City of Midland. In February 2010, the State of Michigan awarded Dow $141 million in the form of business and manufacturing tax credits. Also in 2010, Dow identified Midland as the preferred site for the first full-scale production facility of its Powerhouse Solar Shingle.

The new, large scale manufacturing facility is expected to begin production of the DOW Powerhouse Solar Shingle in late 2012. The facility is reportedly the first increment in the company's scheduled production ramp-up to 220 MW of annual solar shingle capacity by 2015. The production ramp is also expected to create 1,275 direct jobs. Dow says that until the new facility is operational, the Powerhouse Solar Shingles will be manufactured at the existing pilot plant in Midland. These will be used to support the product commercialization launch, currently scheduled for 4Q 2011 in targeted U.S. markets.

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