Last May, I first posted here about how Michigan would lead the green industrial revolution. Some folks scoffed at that idea. They said I was too optimistic. They said Michigan would never lead in a green economy.
We're working to prove them wrong.
Today, I was in Midland, Michigan, as the Dow Chemical Company announced over $1 billion in clean-energy expansions - which, combined with nine other projects announced today, will create over 17,000 new jobs. In three separate ventures, Dow will help create the future of wind, solar, and advanced-battery technology in Michigan's Great Lakes Bay Region - a triple play for our nation's clean-energy future.
First, Dow announced it is moving forward on a truly game-changing product: It will build a $600 million full-scale production facility for its DOW™ POWERHOUSE™ Solar Shingle in Midland. These shingles have the potential to transform the way consumers get power by turning a typical home roof into a true powerhouse in every sense of the word. What makes the product revolutionary is its easy installation - no different from an ordinary shingle. That's why it was one of TIME magazine's "50 Best Inventions of 2009". It's a win for Michigan, for consumers, and ultimately, for our planet.
Dow is also a key player in Michigan's bid to be the advanced-battery capital of the world. Its Dow Kokam joint venture is investing $342 million to build a large-scale manufacturing site to help power the hybrid and electric vehicles of the future. Since we passed the first-in-the-nation advanced-battery credits, Michigan has seen more advanced-battery activity than any other state, meaning up to 40,000 great new jobs by 2020.
Last, but certainly not least, Dow has been designated a Center of Energy Excellence, a program we instituted in 2008 to help make Michigan the North American center of the clean energy industry. As Michigan's seventh Center of Energy Excellence, Dow will partner with the Oak Ridge National Laboratory to help tackle a major challenge for the wind-energy sector: making strong, light carbon fiber materials available for applications like wind turbine blades. This is a great opportunity for Dow to find a solution that can be used throughout the wind-energy industry.
The DOW™ POWERHOUSE™ announcement is the latest in a series of solar wins for Michigan. Hemlock Semiconductor, the world's leading producer of polycrystalline silicon (the critical component of solar panels), has invested $2.5 billion in the Great Lakes Bay Region over the years, spurring other development. Also headquartered in Midland is the world's leader in silicon product research, Dow Corning, where crucial research into the solar products of the future is conducted.
Other companies are following Dow Corning and Hemlock Semiconductor's lead. In Midland, Evergreen Solar opened a new solar plant last year, and is ramping up production of its new "string ribbon solar wafer" technology. Last October, Suniva announced it would invest $250 million in a new solar manufacturing facility in Saginaw County. And just in December, GlobalWatt decided to locate its newest solar plant in Saginaw -- choosing Michigan over a competing site in Texas, largely because so many solar businesses are already in the area.
But, that's not all. Since targeting clean energy as a major sector to help diversify and grow Michigan's economy in 2006, we've made great strides. In fact, just since I posted here last May, we've made progress toward turning the green industrial revolution into a reality in Michigan:
• In June, General Electric announced its new advanced technology and training center outside Detroit, where new renewable-energy products will be researched and developed... meaning thousands of great, green jobs for Michigan.
• In July, I issued an executive directive to reduce Michigan's greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent by 2020 and 80 percent by 2050, because going green isn't just good for the environment - it's good business.
• In August, Vice President Biden announced over $1.35 billion in Department of Energy grants funded by the Recovery Act for Michigan advanced-battery manufacturers - the largest share of any state in the nation.
• In September, I traveled to Japan and met with key executives considering clean-energy projects in Michigan. My previous investment missions to Austria, Belgium, Germany, Israel, Japan, Jordan and Sweden have resulted in more than 10,800 jobs created and retained.
• In October, Michigan State University restructured its MSU Extension, maintaining its traditional focus on agriculture while expanding its role in renewable-energy projects. After all, now is the time to "Go Green!"
• In November, Michigan was proud to host the American Wind Energy Association's Small and Community Wind Conference and Exhibition in Detroit, with over 112 exhibitors from around the world.
• In December, General Motors announced it would invest $336 million in its Detroit Hamtramck Assembly plant to begin building the Chevy Volt later this year. GM has invested $700 million in the eight facilities across the state involved in Volt production.
• Last month, as the world's gaze shifted to the future of the American auto industry at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Ford announced an investment of $450 million in expanding electric vehicle initiatives in Michigan... including moving battery assembly work from Mexico to Michigan.
We're becoming the hub for advanced-battery technology. Our solar-energy industry is rapidly progressing. This year, we will aggressively pursue companies in the wind-energy sector to give Michigan the competitive advantage that is so successful for our battery and solar sectors. We will continue to focus on leading the way to a clean-energy future here in Michigan. We are building the new Michigan economy, piece-by-piece, town-by-town, in communities across the state. Just click here to see some more examples.
And so, as I wrote last May: "Watch - Michigan will lead a green industrial revolution. I invite you to watch us, encourage us, and join us.
And the doubters?
I encourage them to just try and keep up."
Follow Gov. Jennifer M. Granholm on Twitter: www.twitter.com/govgranholm
Rooftop PV Solar systems are being installed for 2$ or less:
Here is the proof of that:
rooftop pf install systems for less than 2$ per Wp installed(3 cents per KWH*):
http://eetd.lbl.gov/EA/EMP/reports/lbnl-2674e.pdf
Page 16, list the installed cost from 2$ to 20$.
35% of the system cost 7-8$
15% cost 6-7$
5% cost 5-6$
2% cost 4-5$
about 1% cost 3-4$
about .5% cost 2-3$
and 62 system were not included because they cost less than 2$
Here is where YOU CAN BUY panels for 1$/Wp for new panels.
Shop around. And this is before subsides. check for subsides in your area, state federal, utility, and solar contractors all have subsides and funding options.
Solar Panels prices per peak watt have dropped from 8$ per Wp to less than 2$ per peak what.
98 cents 201001 (1.88 /Wp 090929 was 1.55 per peak watt 090801)
http://www.atensolar.com/EPV.
http://www.ecobusinesslinks.com/solar_panels.htm
*as an investment(cash) , over 30 years, 6 hours "sunniness"
Nukes 25 cents per KWH,
http://energyeconomyonline.com/uploads/Is_New_Nuclear_Competitive_July_10_2009_FNS_Event.pdf
http://climateprogress.org/2009/01/05/study-cost-risks-new-nuclear-power-plants/
10$ per W nuclear build cost.
http://climateprogress.org/2009/07/15/nuclear-power-plant-cost-bombshell-ontario/
You basically don't have a clue about spurring clean energy development. The simple solution for Michigan's unemployment is to end the Guaranteed Rate of Return (GROR) utility structure enjoyed by investor owned utilities and adopt California's Indepenent Service Operator (ISO) model. The second step would be to open the grid to every producer of clean, renewable energy allowing them to get paid for full retail rates the excess capacity they put into the grid. Why would anyone go to the expense of installing solar or wind if they are not going to get paid for the power they put into the grid.
Your state has one of the worst net metering laws and grid interconnect rules in the country and you are sitting around wondering why Michigan doesn't have robust renewable energy development similar to California. The utilities in California, turn on their renewable assets long before they fire up their assets that burn fuel. It is amazing you were ever elected to office.
my home of Indiana is getting a wind turbine gearbox factory, est 400 employed, an electric car plant est 400 employed, and a lithium ion battery plant for electric or gas/electric cars, est 1200 employed
Electric car factories and battery plants are a joke and a money pit at best. There isn't a SINGLE battery manufacturer in the US right now that has a plan to be profitable. Here's a few examples:
- A123 loses money on EVERY pack they sell and even with their new plant they have NO idea how they can go about making money.
- GM will get soaked on every Volt they sell (battery pack costs over $20K).
- Chevron/GM sunk in close to $500M over a period of 8 years into Cobasys (NiMH battery pack producer) with NO results - recently SBLimotive bought the Cobasys assets for under $20M.
Being you're in Indiana, I will assume you're referring to EnerDel. To the best of my knowledge they just lost the Fisker program (A123 bought that away for a few million dollars to Fisker).
How many battery manufacturers have received tax breaks in Michigan so far? How many have been successful? A123 got all these funds from the government yet barely have any contracts - so they're building a plant in hopes to attract customers. Ok, but is the underlying technology sound? I'd be surprised - it might work for power tools but they have not proven they can make it work in cars.
BTW, a long time ago you indicated that in 5 years we'd be blown away. We are, but not in a good way.
Do these technologies even have any takers? Sure- a "powershingle" sounds cool but do you really think DTE is going to blithely go along with consumers going off the grid?
Green, schmeen. Show me the money.
She's been there 8 years, the State has been in a deficit for years and she waited until it wouldn't affect her to propose cutting wages of State officials. Were you proud of her when she spent over 10 million that Michigan doesn't have to move the primary up in 2008?
When the Asian carp get in Lake Michigan while she is supporting the White House plan while saying it falls short, isn't she still playing her blame game? The Army Corp of Engineers said New Orleans was protected and look what that got. Granholm is marketing for her next job since she's done here, it's not about Michigan, it's about her.
I feel for everyone (that's left) in our state. I am every bit as frustrated, angry and, at times, despairing as the next person. My property tax assessment just went down for the first time in 20 years, and I wish I had a job. Friends have moved to Alaska, Texas, Florida and Germany. It's not good. But it's real and we need to think forward. We have to at least try to explore other options beyond auto making and tourism. I commend Governor Granholm for trying.
The Recovery Act borrowed a bunch of money that future taxpayers will have to pay back with interest and gave it to Michigan: this is government at work.
The Governor issued an executive directive and met with some CEO's and Joe Biden made an announcement: this is politics at work.
Of the three, I put my faith in capitalism as the best solution.
Only California has the ideal mix ... an all Hydrogen future.
Don't get me wrong, I'd love to see us get out from under the heel of foreign oil producers and receive the other benefits from cleaner energy sources, and people tout how discarded french fry oil could fuel our cars, or home boom box electricity or solar panels...but how will the state tax these to make they pay for the road system?