United Solar Ovonic wins $13M in stimulus funds, looks to add 600 jobs

Uncle Sam wants United Solar Ovonic to spend his federal stimulus money wisely and create green technology and jobs. It's a task the Rochester Hills-based firm believes it's up to.

The solar panel laminate firm recently received a $13.275 million tax credit as part of the company's planned investment into its Auburn Hills-based manufacturing plant. The plan is to both increase the efficiency of manufacturing the solar panels and to drive down the manufacturing costs. And it's expected to create about 600 jobs in Michigan.

United Solar Ovonic is a subsidiary of Rochester Hills-based Energy Conversion Devices. The company makes thin film solar panel material that can be used in roof materials to create renewable energy.

It has invested significantly mostly in Michigan. Besides its plant in Auburn Hills, it also pledged to open another manufacturing facility in Greenville, Michigan shortly after the main employer, Elctrolux, decided to pull up stakes.
United Solar Ovonic also performs most of is research from the Rochester area.

Source: United Solar Ovonic
Writer: Jon Zemke
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Related Company

  • United Solar Ovonic
    3800 Lapeer Road
    Auburn Hills, MI 48326 Website
    Auburn Hills United Solar Ovonic is world's largest manufacturer of triple junction amorphous silicon photovoltaic solar panels for converting sunlight into electricity.