Incentives for cutting-edge Dow Chemical solar shingles plant
EXAMINER - The Dow Chemical Co. (Midland, Mich.) announced last month plans for a full-scale production facility near its headquarters, dependent on obtaining local, state and federal funding.
However, the Michigan Economic Development Corp., which frequently advertises on national television, pledged the firm $61.3M in tax incentives over 15 years for various projects, including this manufacturing plant if it builds it in Michigan. The proposed facility will manufacture solar shingles that employ unique thin-film solar modules categorized as Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV). This invention was named one of "The 50 Best Inventions of 2009" by TIME magazine. Currently, Dow has a smaller-scale development plant in Midland, which was supported by a $20M Department of Energy (DOE) awarded in 2007 under the Solar America Initiative (SAI) Pathways Program. According to Dow, the latest plant could be operational by 2014 and create at least 1200 green jobs.
