Monday's announcement indicates Dow Chemical believes the Dow Powerhouse Solar Shingle will be a big seller, and it gives those looking for work some hope.
"We have the first solar product that actually looks like it belongs on a rooftop," said Dow Solar General Manager Jane Palmieri.
And those solar shingles are now on three homes in this Bay County subdivision, one of them being a Net Zero Energy home which was unveiled earlier this spring.
The solar shingles are integrated into the roof, and Palmieri expects the product will be a hot seller.
"We are continuing to see very strong interest in the product," she said. "We are very confident that we are going to have a very successful launch here next year, 2011."
Anticipating that successful launch, the company plans on hiring 100 people by the end of the month.
"These are really parts fabrication and assembly packaging and logistics types rolls," Palmieri said.
A college degree is not required.
"GED or high school completion," Palmieri said. "We are also really recommending that people that apply for these jobs have experience with Delta College's Fast Start Solar Program."
"You don't have to have a lot of technical college to get in. There's a lot of productions jobs," said Richard Bricault of Saginaw, who has been looking for work.
"I've been out of work for about a year and two months."
And he plans on applying with Dow Chemical for one of the solar shingle jobs, which will pay a little more than $14 an hour.
He's hoping he gets one because he's getting tired of trips to the unemployment office.
"I've got three little girls I have to take care of, so you know, times are tough," he said. "We just have to keep fighting."
