NEW ENERGY BRINGING MICHIGAN JOBS

Clean Energy Creates Manufacturing Job Growth in Michigan; New Study Finds 121 Solar Energy Companies and 120 Wind Power Companies Working in Michigan
March 22, 2011 (Environmental Law and Policy Center)

"The Environmental Law and Policy Center’s new Michigan’s solar and wind energy supply chain study finds that 121 Michigan companies are engaged in the solar industry and 120 Michigan companies are part of the wind energy supply chain…[Together they] provide over 10,000 jobs in Michigan. The state’s manufacturers and research and development institutions benefit from policies that encourage growth in the clean energy sector…

"…[The Solar and Wind Industry Supply Chain in Michigan] profiles the wide variety of Michigan businesses…The state is home to huge manufacturers like Dow Corning and Hemlock Semiconductor, as well as over 100 small businesses such as Walker Miller Energy Services and Hot Watt Solar that serve a growing base of residential and commercial clients…[all of which] are looking forward to sound policies that will support the domestic market for clean energy."

click to enlarge

[Jerrod Erpelding, spokesman for Dow Corning:] “Dow Corning and Hemlock Semiconductor are investing billions of dollars right here in Michigan to research, develop and manufacture materials critical to the solar and wind energy industries…Our goal is to help alternative energy become an economically viable, sustainable energy option globally. Michigan is well positioned to play a major role in alternative energy with the assets and expertise already residing here.”

click to enlarge

[Blaire H. Miller, EVP of URV USA, LLC:] “URV USA will build the first major clean-tech foundry in the US in more than 40 years, securing domestic capacity for very heavy wind turbine components as well as other industrial iron castings. We have begun shipping top quality finished components to major US OEMs and look forward to developing the new industry materials standard in collaboration with the US Dept. of Energy, State of Michigan, Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Michigan Technological University…”

"The report notes that strong public policies are key to growing any industry, and the wind and solar industries are no exception. Strengthening the Michigan renewable energy standard and enacting the proposed federal renewable energy standard would help grow the local economy by increasing Michigan’s export opportunities for renewable energy as well as manufactured wind and solar components and professional services."