Dow Nets Tax Credits for Solar Shingles, May Create 1,700 Jobs in Michigan

The Michigan Economic Growth Authority (MEGA) on Thursday approved $61 million in state tax credits over 15 years for Dow Chemical. Provided funding comes through, the company plans to use some of the the credits to build a new solar-shingle manufacturing plant in Midland, Michigan.

As reported by Midland Daily News, the move may create as many as 1,700 jobs:

Gov. Jennifer Granholm spoke about the project in her State of the State address and the MEGA board is expected to approve a 100 percent employment tax credit for 15 years for up to 1,700 net new employees in excess of the company’s established base of 5,278, provided Dow creates and maintains at least 1,700 qualified new jobs by the end of the twelfth credit year. Failure to do so would forfeit the remaining credit years.

The project has the potential to create more than 1,200 jobs in the region by 2014, with a total of 1,700 jobs as it moves forward. … The shingles integrate low-cost, thin-film CIGS photovoltaic cells into a design that reduces installation costs because conventional roofing shingles and solar generating shingles are installed simultaneously. The solar shingles were named one of the “50 Best Inventions of 2009” by TIME magazine.

Michigan is home to a number of other clean-tech manufacturers, including Hemlock Semiconductor, United Solar Ovonic and battery-maker A123 Systems.