MANHASSET, N.Y. — Energy Conversion Devices Inc. (ECD Ovonics) has selected Greenville, Mich., as the location of its third solar cell manufacturing plant.
In February, ECD Ovonics (Rochester Hills, Mich.) approved a plan to expand the module manufacturing capacity of its wholly-owned subsidiary United Solar Ovonics to 300 megawatts (MW) by 2010. The first phase of the expansion plan includes constructing the Greenville plant with an annual capacity of 50 MW, expected to be operational in 2007.
United Solar Ovonic's existing 25MW plant is located in Auburn Hills, Mich., where the company broke ground for a second 25 MW plant last July.
The project will create up to 563 jobs, including 200 directly by ECD, within the next five years. State and local governments are also providing United Solar Ovonic with additional incentives to invest up to an additional $600 million for up to five more plants in Greenville and up to 1,000 new jobs.
"We are pleased that the State of Michigan continues to be interested in attracting and retaining high-tech, innovative companies. We appreciate the State's support and look forward to continuing to grow our manufacturing capacity," said Robert C. Stempel, chairman and chief executive of ECD Ovonics, in a statement.
