Watch out, Wal-Mart–Wind Manufacturing is the New Kid on the Block in Arkansas
Watch out, Wal-Mart. When it comes to the Arkansas economy, there’s a new kid on the block: wind energy manufacturing. “Since we’ve targeted wind, we’ve had five manufacturers locate in the state, and they’ve invested a total of $370 million and created about 2,900 jobs,” said Scott Hardin of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission. Read more
Lost Creek Wind Farm Turbines Made in the USA
Farmers in DeKalb County, Mo., who depend on corn, soybeans and pasture land for their livelihoods will soon gain another source of income: annual payments from the Wind Capital Group, which is leasing space on their properties to create the largest wind farm in Missouri. Lost Creek Wind Farm will cover 32,000 acres and produce enough electricity to power 50,000 homes. The project will also create short-term construction jobs and ongoing operations jobs as well as infrastructure benefits for DeKalb County. Read more
America Invests in Advanced Battery Manufacturing
The federal government has decided to invest in building a clean energy industry from the ground up. The Obama administration has committed to putting a million plug-in hybrid electric vehicles on the road by 2015. But a 2005 report by the federal Advanced Technology Program at the National Institutes of Standards and Technology found that the U.S. had no capacity to produce advanced vehicle batteries at scale. In order to beef up capacity and ensure that batteries for new electric vehicles are made domestically, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) provided $1.5 billion in grants to U.S.-based battery manufacturers. Read more
Former Ford Plant Renewed as a Renewable Energy Manufacturer
Wixom, MI – Ford Motor Company’s vacant Wixom, Mich., plant is slated to be converted to a solar and battery power manufacturing center beginning early next year and will come on line in late 2011. The 52-year-old factory will be retooled to house three clean energy manufacturers: Clairvoyant Energy of California, Xtreme Power of Texas, and the Swiss company Oerlikon Solar. Read more
United Solar Ovonics Partners with Montcalm Community College
When United Solar Ovonics (UNI-SOLAR) was looking to open a new facility to expand its production capacity of thin film solar products, an available skilled workforce was a critical consideration in its site selection process. When the company, headquartered in Auburn Hills, Mich., centered its search on Greenville, Mich., Montcalm Community College (MCC) stepped up to ensure UNI-SOLAR would have the resources to meet its training needs. Read more
Green Job Training Dawns at Delta College
In turbulent economic times, the mid-Michigan region is riding the wave of green jobs as a way to revitalize its economy. The region’s industries are leading the way, with a trio of inter-related businesses – Dow Chemical, Dow Corning and Hemlock Semiconductor – all expanding into the field of solar photovoltaics.
A properly skilled workforce is key to this expansion and the future prosperity of area companies. Read more
American-made Streetcars: Portland Company Rebuilds Lost Industry
United Streetcar, a union company in Portland, Ore., and wholly owned subsidiary of Oregon Iron Works, has built the first American-made streetcar in over half a century, with the help of funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. United Streetcar has a deal in place to build six streetcars for the city and is on the verge of signing a $26 million contract to build seven more for Tucson, Ariz. Read more
Hybrid Bus Project Gets Rolling in Detroit
TROY, Michigan – Fisher Coachworks, a century-old legend of Detroit automotive manufacturing, has resurrected its time-honored brand under a green banner with a new program for building fuel-efficient vehicles for mass transit. Read more
Litecontrol Illuminates Energy Efficiency
Litecontrol, an employee-owned and unionized Massachusetts manufacturer of energy-efficient architectural lighting for commercial buildings and institutions, is a prime example of how the lighting industry is illuminating the nation’s path toward reducing our carbon footprint. Read more
Seattle Machinists Apprenticeships Trains Next Generation of Windmill Workers
Journeyman machinists are retiring at a rapid pace throughout greater Seattle. To offset the dwindling workforce, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers District 160 is teaming up with area companies to offer a multi-year apprentice program that brings fresh hands into the industry.
