The Dow Chemical Company on September 10 announced the creation of 100 new, full-time jobs to support the development of its revolutionary Dow POWERHOUSE Solar Shingles at its facility in Midland, Mich.
According to Dow Solar general manager, Jane Palmieri, this is the result of continued collaboration between Dow, the State of Michigan and the City of Midland to accelerate production of the Dow POWERHOUSE Solar Shingles, and create new, advanced manufacturing jobs that are helping make Michigan a “green tech” hub of the new U.S. economy.
“This represents a significant milestone toward bringing our Dow POWERHOUSE Solar Shingles to the market in 2011, and confirms that we are on track to deliver this pioneering new residential solar technology next year,” said Palmieri. “It is also the first phase towards bringing more than 1,200 jobs to the region by 2014 to support the production of our solar product here in Midland.”
The initial wave of solar-related jobs at Dow’s Michigan Operations will be in manufacturing, with hiring of qualified candidates expected to begin as early as the end of September. the company worked closely with union officials to develop the criteria for these positions, and ensure the right skills were in place to support the anticipated 2011 market demands.
“We see this as a winning situation for Dow, the union and the community,” said Kent Holsing, president United Steelworkers, Local 12075. “We are always looking to work together with the company to bring more jobs to the region including skilled solar manufacturing jobs.”
Earlier this year, the company announced Midland had been identified as the preferred site for the first full-scale production facility for its revolutionary Dow POWERHOUSE Solar Shingle.
“We’re excited to add these manufacturing jobs to our Michigan Operations facility to begin contributing to the local economic base immediately,” said Earl Shipp, Dow vice president for Michigan Operations. “As Dow adds to its portfolio of building-related solar-energy-generating products, we’ll continue to tap into the base of highly skilled workers we have right here in the Great Lakes Bay Region.”
About Dow POWERHOUSE
In 2007, Dow received $20 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Energy to focus on developing the next generation of residential solar solutions. In October, 2009, Dow Solar unveiled the Dow POWERHOUSE Solar Shingle as the first in a portfolio of building related solar energy generating products. Since its introduction, the Solar Shingle has been hailed as revolutionary, including being named one of the "50 Best Inventions of 2009" by Time magazine.
The innovative product design provides an unprecedented integrated roof appearance and simplified installation. It combines a roofing shingle with a solar cell, enabling the Dow POWERHOUSE Solar Shingle to be installed by a roofer along with standard asphalt roofing materials. This makes the Dow POWERHOUSE Solar Shingle an easy choice for homeowners looking for a residential solar solution that is easy to install and aesthetically pleasing. Building Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV) products from Dow Solar are evidence that Dow is focused on developing energy alternatives and expanding Dow’s commitment to use chemistry to solve the world’s energy challenges.
