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New $1 Billion Chemical Plant Will Produce Solar Panels


Wacker Chemie AG of Munich, Germany, has announced plans to build a $1 billion manufacturing facility in Cleveland, Tenn., that is expected to create more than 500 new jobs in the region.

The plant will produce hyperpure polycrystalline silicon, a primary component used in the manufacture of solar panels and semiconductors. Wacker has manufactured polysilicon for over 50 years and is currently the world’s second-largest producer of hyperpure polycrystalline silicon.

ā€œWe expect polysilicon demand from the solar and semiconductor industries to further increase in the coming years,ā€ said Dr. Rudolph Staudigl, president and CEO of Wacker Chemie. ā€œPurchasing this site is an essential prerequisite to quickly build up additional production capacities outside the euro zone in line with projected market trends and growth in demand.ā€

The facility will be located on a 550-acre greenfield site near the Hiwassee Industrial Park.