Solar panel manufacturer could bring new jobs to West Michigan

[Jocar]

Possibly 1,000 new jobs could come to West Michigan. Kentwood or Coopersville were named in the article as possible sites for a solar panel manufacturer to locate a plant.

Mlive Story

[GRDadof3]

Awesome news! It's like we're starting to grow a niche industry. With this, Priceline and possibly one other big "jobs news" one I hear might be coming out soon, that could really inject some optimism into the community.

[crinzema]

All you hear on the news is that tons of jobs are leaving Michigan. Whether its 500 or 10, they always report the negative news. Love hearing good news for a change.

[suydam]

All you hear on the news is that tons of jobs are leaving Michigan. Whether its 500 or 10, they always report the negative news. Love hearing good news for a change.

[blueradon]

Well I don't mean to be the NIMBY here - but do we all remember the place that came here in Greenville? yeah...about 10% of Electrolux workers actually work there. Granted they are expanding and what not - but the word around town is that majority of these jobs came from people out of state.

Any time a job opening comes up in this town they get flooded with over 1,500 apps.

But beyond all that - good news for more alternative energy!

[suydam]

Well I don't mean to be the NIMBY here - but do we all remember the place that came here in Greenville? yeah...about 10% of Electrolux workers actually work there. Granted they are expanding and what not - but the word around town is that majority of these jobs came from people out of state.

[GRDadof3]

If people moved to the state to take the jobs, that too is a positive for the local economy.

A population influx (of employed people) is still a good thing, right

I'm sure when they post jobs, and get 1,500 apps they try to hire the best people. If that's not locals, then so be it I guess... it stinks, to be sure, but how else should they hire people?

It's still jobs, and it's still a huge improvement over closings and layoffs.

[aowwt]

the problem is the Fed Government just stopped all expansion of solar power plants in the country to review the impact to the enviroment that these could be causing. That could derail this in a heart beat.

[GRDadof3]

the problem is the Fed Government just stopped all expansion of solar power plants in the country to review the impact to the enviroment that these could be causing. That could derail this in a heart beat.

[aowwt]

you see thats what happens when I am without power for a day or two. I miss things like that. silly me.

[fotoman311]

The moratorium was lifted

Plus aowwt, you don't know if this proposed plant is going to produce solar panels for power plants in California (my guess is it's not).

[AlexPKeaton]

The moratorium only applied to public land anyway. I'm not sure how much space a solar power plant takes up or how important using public land would be.

[blueradon]

Exactly. If the Frigidaire people don't have the skills, I believe the State is providing job-training specifically for Uni-Solar, aren't they?

[joeDowntown]

Well they have to be employing somebody unless they are using solar-powered robots. Any way you look at it, it was still a huge win for Greenville, especially after Electrolux headed South.

Joe

[GRDadof3]

I just overheard a blurb on WOODTV that this is still in development and might be heating up. 1000 new jobs, Colorado company, Kentwood.