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Cable News Network’s (CNN) Lou Dobbs Tonight recently featured a story about the multi-billion
dollar investments taking place at Dow Corning’s
joint ventures the Hemlock Semiconductor Group.
In December, Hemlock Semiconductor announced intentions to invest $2.2
billion to expand polycrystalline silicon (polysilicon) production, a key raw
material used to manufacture solar cells and semiconductor devices. The
expansion includes an initial investment of $1.2 billion to build a new site in
Clarksville, Tennessee, and up to $1 billion to expand current operations in
Hemlock, Mich.
In total, the Hemlock Semiconductor group has announced investments of up to
$4.0 billion in the past five years to increase polysilicon capacity to meet
the growing needs of the solar industry. By 2015, the joint ventures will
have increased polysilicon manufacturing capacity by up to 10 times over that
10-year span.
The expansion announcements at Hemlock Semiconductor were just a few of the
latest solar-related activities at Dow Corning:
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In May 2008, Dow Corning opened its Solar Solutions Application Center in
Freeland, Michigan (U.S.), to enable collaboration with customers to develop,
evaluate and pilot materials solutions used to manufacture solar panels. The $3
million, 27,000-square foot, state-of-the-art facility represents Dow Corning’s
intention to be an active, eager partner with researchers, producers and
governments as we help develop affordable and efficient solar energy for the
global energy market.
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In September 2008, Dow Corning introduced a manufacturing process featuring
new developmental silicone materials - Dow Corning® PV-6100
Encapsulant series - that significantly increases the production rate of solar
panels, effectively lowering the cost per watt of solar power.
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In June 2008, Hemlock Semiconductor announced the beginning of production
at its newest polysilicon facility located at the company’s Hemlock site.
That expansion was part of a $500 million phased investment announced in 2005
and 2006.
Dow Corning provides performance-enhancing solutions to
serve the diverse needs of more than 25,000 customers worldwide. A global
leader in silicones,
silicon-based technology and innovation, Dow Corning offers more than 7,000
products and services via the company’s Dow Corning® and XIAMETER®
brands. Dow Corning is a joint venture equally owned by The Dow Chemical
Company and Corning, Incorporated. More than half of Dow Corning’s annual sales
are outside the United States.
The Hemlock Semiconductor
Group (Hemlock Semiconductor) is comprised of two joint ventures:
Hemlock Semiconductor Corporation and Hemlock Semiconductor, L.L.C. The
companies are joint ventures among Dow Corning Corporation, Shin-Etsu Handotai,
and Mitsubishi Materials Corporation. Hemlock Semiconductor is a leading
provider of polycrystalline silicon and other silicon-based products used in
the manufacturing of semiconductor devices, and solar cells and modules.
Hemlock Semiconductor began its Michigan operations in 1961 and broke ground at
its Tennessee location in 2009.
For further information, please direct inquiries to one of our media
representatives.
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