CNN Highlights Solar Investments at Dow Corning Joint Ventures Hemlock Semiconductor Group

Cable News Network’s (CNN) Lou Dobbs Tonight recently featured a story about the multi-billion dollar investments taking place at Dow Corning’s joint ventures the Hemlock Semiconductor Group.

In December, Hemlock Semiconductor announced intentions to invest $2.2 billion to expand polycrystalline silicon (polysilicon) production, a key raw material used to manufacture solar cells and semiconductor devices. The expansion includes an initial investment of $1.2 billion to build a new site in Clarksville, Tennessee, and up to $1 billion to expand current operations in Hemlock, Mich.

In total, the Hemlock Semiconductor group has announced investments of up to $4.0 billion in the past five years to increase polysilicon capacity to meet the growing needs of the solar industry. By 2015, the joint ventures will have increased polysilicon manufacturing capacity by up to 10 times over that 10-year span.

The expansion announcements at Hemlock Semiconductor were just a few of the latest solar-related activities at Dow Corning:

* In May 2008, Dow Corning opened its Solar Solutions Application Center in Freeland, Michigan (U.S.), to enable collaboration with customers to develop, evaluate and pilot materials solutions used to manufacture solar panels. The $3 million, 27,000-square foot, state-of-the-art facility represents Dow Corning’s intention to be an active, eager partner with researchers, producers and governments as we help develop affordable and efficient solar energy for the global energy market.

* In September 2008, Dow Corning introduced a manufacturing process featuring new developmental silicone materials - Dow Corning® PV-6100 Encapsulant series - that significantly increases the production rate of solar panels, effectively lowering the cost per watt of solar power.

* In June 2008, Hemlock Semiconductor announced the beginning of production at its newest polysilicon facility located at the company’s Hemlock site. That expansion was part of a $500 million phased investment announced in 2005 and 2006.

About Dow Corning

Dow Corning provides performance-enhancing solutions to serve the diverse needs of more than 25,000 customers worldwide. A global leader in silicones, silicon-based technology and innovation, Dow Corning offers more than 7,000 products and services via the company’s Dow Corning® and XIAMETER® brands. Dow Corning is a joint venture equally owned by The Dow Chemical Company and Corning, Incorporated. More than half of Dow Corning’s annual sales are outside the United States.

The Hemlock Semiconductor Group (Hemlock Semiconductor) is comprised of two joint ventures: Hemlock Semiconductor Corporation and Hemlock Semiconductor, L.L.C. The companies are joint ventures among Dow Corning Corporation, Shin-Etsu Handotai, and Mitsubishi Materials Corporation. Hemlock Semiconductor is a leading provider of polycrystalline silicon and other silicon-based products used in the manufacturing of semiconductor devices, and solar cells and modules. Hemlock Semiconductor began its Michigan operations in 1961 and broke ground at its Tennessee location in 2009.