Gov. Jennifer M. Granholm, D-Mich., recently visited Merrill Tool and Machine, located near Saginaw, Mich., which is diversifying into wind energy manufacturing and creating jobs through assistance from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA).
Merrill Tool and Machine is using a grant and an advanced energy manufacturing tax credit (also called a 48c tax credit) funded through ARRA to diversify into manufacturing and assemble large-scale, advanced composite wind turbine blades and system components.
‘The Merrill story is a perfect example of what we can accomplish when everyone pulls in the same direction,’ says Granholm. ‘Recovery Act funding is assisting our ongoing efforts at the state level to diversify Michigan's economy and create new jobs in clean energy manufacturing.’
In January, the White House announced that Merrill had won a $22 million 48c tax credit, which allowed the company 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 ARRA funds to develop, manufacture and test prototypes of the larger turbine components, with full production expected to begin in July.
SOURCE: Office of Gov. Jennifer M. Granholm  Â
