Granholm Hails Plans to Transform Former Wixom Assembly Plant into Renewale Energy Park, Creating Thousands of Green Jobs in Michigan
LANSING, MI – September 10, 2009 – (RealEstateRama) — Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today hailed plans to transform the former Ford Wixom Assembly plant into a $725 million renewable energy park anchored by Xtreme Power and Clairvoyant Solar. The project, which still requires approval of federal and state incentives, will provide up to 4,000 jobs on site.
“Michigan is fast becoming a North American hub for manufacturing renewable energy products,” Granholm said. “Today we’re adding to our growing list of world-class green manufacturing leaders who want to establish operations here. Michigan is attractive to them because of our skilled workforce, technical know-how, and manufacturing capacity.”
At a celebration today on the Wixom site, Ford Motor Company Executive Chairman Bill Ford Jr. announced plans to sell the former manufacturing facility to Xtreme Power and Clairvoyant Energy who are creating a new partnership to redevelop the property. The two anchor manufacturers plan to begin production in the fall of 2011 and also expect to attract suppliers and other manufacturers to the site.
Xtreme Power says it will create 2,500 direct jobs, while Clairvoyant will create 270 direct jobs initially and projects employment to eventually reach 1,100. Oerlikon Solar, a Swiss-based manufacturing partner of Clairvoyant, plans to locate its North American headquarters at the site and create 300 jobs. An additional 10,000 supplier and indirect jobs are estimated to be created by this economic development.
The Granholm administration has been working hard to make Michigan a center for green manufacturing. Recently-created incentives and programs to support the growth of cutting-edge Michigan companies in this field include first-in-the-nation advanced-battery incentives, the 21st Century Jobs Fund, alternative energy and high-tech tax credits, renewable energy renaissance zones, anchor zone incentives, and Centers of Energy Excellence.
Last month, nine Michigan companies were awarded a total of more than $1.35 billion from the U.S. Department of Energy to support advanced-battery and electric-vehicle manufacturing and development.
Contact: Megan Brown 517-335-6397
