Business Facilities - March 2009 - (Page 8)

CORPORATE MOVES Tennessee By Fred Felton German Chemical Giant to Build $1-Billion Polysilicon Plant in Tennessee acker Chemie AG, the Munichbased chemical company, has announced plans to build a $1-billion polysilicon plant in Bradley County, Tennessee. The new chemical facility, expected to create more than 500 new jobs in the region, is the third mega-project landed by Tennessee in the past eight months. Earlier this year, Hemlock Semiconductor announced that it would invest $2.5 billion in a new semiconductor plant near Clarksville, TN, and last summer Volkswagon chose a site just north of Chattanooga for its return to car manufacturing in the U.S. The new Wacker plant will manufacture hyperpure polycrystalline silicon, a primary component used in the manufacture of solar panels and semiconductors. The development announcement was jointly made by Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen, Economic and Community Development Commissioner Matt Kisber, Dr. Rudolph Staudigl, president and CEO of Wacker Chemie AG, and Dr. Ingomar Kovar, president of Wacker Chemical Corporation, Adrian, MI. “This announcement further enhances Tennessee’s growing reputation as an innovation center in the development and manufacture of clean energy technologies,” said Bredesen. “I appreciate Wacker Chemie’s investment in Tennessee and its recognition of the productivity of Tennessee workers, and I’m very W 8 MARCH 2009 PHOTO CREDIT: STATE OF TENNESSEE pleased the company believes this is the best place to enhance its position in this growing economic sector.” “We expect polysilicon demand from the solar and semiconductor industries to further increase in the coming years,” said Dr. Staudigl. “Purchasing this site is an essential prerequisite to quickly build up additional production capacities outside the euro zone in line with projected market trends and growth in demand.” The facility will be located in southeastern Tennessee on a 550acre greenfield site near the Hiwassee Industrial Park in the Charleston community of Bradley County. “Under Governor Bredesen’s leadership, we’ve developed a strategy for the creation of ‘green collar’ jobs in Tennessee,” Left to right: Wacker Chemie CEO Dr. Rudolph Staudigl, ECD said Kisber. “That strat- Commissioner Matt Kisber, Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen, and Wacker Chemie AG Chairman Dr. Peter-Alexander Wacker seal egy has resulted in more the deal for Wacker’s new plant in Tennessee. than $2.5 billion dollars in capital investment and over a thou- and Kisber joined with the chief sand new jobs being announced in the executive officers of Hemlock Semipast year and we truly believe Tennessee conductor and its parent company, is well-positioned for the growth of a Dow Corning, to announce Hemsustainable economy in the U.S.” lock Semiconductor’s plan to locate In addition to the state’s strong a polycrystalline silicon manufacturbusiness climate, Wacker officials ing operation at the Commerce Park cited Tennessee’s well-developed megasite in Clarksville, TN. infrastructure and the cooperative The facility, which will produce a partnership of state agencies, local primary component used in the government, the Tennessee Valley manufacture of solar panels and Authority and the local chamber of other energy equipment, will mean commerce. As part of its investment, an investment of $1.2 to $2.5 bil- Wacker will qualify for statutory incentives on the state and local level, including the FastTrack Infrastructure Development Program, the FastTrack Job Training Assistance Program and the Super Jobs Tax Credit. The strong partnership between the state of Tennessee and TVA will allow the company to take advantage of industrial electricity rates approximately half those found in Germany. Wacker Chemie AG currently is the world’s second largest producer of hyperpure polycrystalline silicon. Wacker has manufactured polysilicon for more than 50 years and has steadily expanded its capacity to meet rising solar-silicon demand in the photovoltaic industry. Two months ago, Gov. Bredesen

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Business Facilities - March 2009 Contents First Word Snapshots Corporate Moves: Tennessee Deciphering High-Tech Hubs Industry Focus: Biotech/Pharmaceuticals The Lone Star State Continues to Burn Brightly Pennsylvania is Holding Its Own Corporate Moves: Florida Metro Spotlight: Findlay, OH Advertiser Index Ask the Expert

Business Facilities - March 2009

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