New York-based Corning Inc. has selected Richland Township in Saginaw County for a new, $900 million manufacturing facility dedicated to the creation of U.S.-made solar energy components.
The plant is expected to help meet a sharp rise in demand for solar power that the current domestic solar supply chain cannot meet. Corning subsidiary Solar Technology will operate the facility once it is up and running in 2028.
The Michigan Economic Development Corp. and the Michigan Strategic Fund assisted with bringing Corning to the Great Lakes State.
Corning says it chose Michigan for the project over competing sites in the Midwest and Northeast because of its talent pool and commitment to onshore critical clean energy supply chains.
To support the project, the Michigan Strategic Fund approved:
- A $68 million performance-based Critical Industries Program (CIP) grant through the Strategic Outreach and Reserve Fund (SOAR).
- A 15-Year State Essential Services Assessment Exemption valued at $12.3 million.
- A $29 million Strategic Site Readiness Program (SSRP) grant to Thomas Township for public infrastructure, road improvements and related expenses.
“These approved incentives helped confirm Michigan as the natural choice for this new endeavor,” says Scott Forester, division vice president and Solar program executive for Corning. “The planned facility will create thousands of local jobs and advance the goal of expanding access to U.S. renewable energy solutions.”
Richland Township officials say they anticipates approval of a property tax abatement in support of the project. Further, it is anticipated the influx of jobs will result in spin-off investments and redevelopment opportunities, including more than $5.6 billion in new personal income generated over 20 years by the direct, indirect, and induced jobs from the project.
“We are grateful to Corning Corp. and its partners for this vote of confidence in Team Michigan,” says Quentin Messer Jr., CEO of MEDC and president of the MSF board. “The MEDC is proud to support companies like Corning who prove you can Make it in Michigan regardless of whether you are a small company just starting out, have called Michigan home for a long time, or are entirely new to our great state.
“By onshoring our clean energy supply chain through projects like this, Michigan continues to assert its dominance in an industry that is vital not only to our energy independence but also to our climate security.”
