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Following is today’s edition of What
the Governor’s Talking about Today. You can send it out now.
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What the Governor’s Talking about
Today
Tuesday, March 9,
2010
Governor Visits Wind
Energy Manufacturing Facility in Merrill
The governor today visited a company in Merrill, near
Saginaw, that is diversifying into wind-energy manufacturing and creating
jobs through assistance from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
(Recovery Act).
Merrill Tool and Machine is using a grant and an
advanced-energy manufacturing tax credit (also called a 48c tax credit) funded
through the Recovery Act to diversify into manufacturing and assembling
large-scale, advanced composite wind turbine blades and system
components.
In January, the White House announced Merrill had won
a $22 million advanced-energy manufacturing tax credit (48c tax credit) funded
through the Recovery Act. This allowed Merrill to purchase the
advanced-manufacturing equipment necessary to produce utility-scale 2.2 MW wind
turbine components for Northern Power.
Last year, the Michigan Department of Energy, Labor and
Economic Growth awarded Merrill $3 million in Recovery Act funds to develop,
manufacture and test prototypes of the larger turbine components, with full
production expected to begin in July 2010. That grant built on previous
state assistance: In 2005, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation
supported a brownfield single business tax credit for Merrill, which allowed the
company to build a $2.95 million manufacturing facility and create or retain 35
manufacturing jobs.
Key
messages:
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Jon
Ogar
Senior
Writer/Editor
Communications
Division
Office of Governor
Jennifer M. Granholm
Office 517-335-6819
Cell
517-515-2743
Fax
517-335-6790