A Manufacturing Bright Spot in Michigan

Two alternative energy companies are trying to turn a closed Ford plant into a sustainable energy powerhouse.

Texas’ Xtreme Power and California’s Clairvoyant Energy are in the process of buying and refurbishing a plant 25 miles north of Detroit. The companies plan to use the existing building as a base to train and employ workers in the renewable energy field.

"It’s not just that our city needs it or our county needs it. Our state needs it," said Kevin Hinkley, the mayor of Wixom, where the plant would be located. "We need to look at the new frontier."

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Less than half of the 4.7 million square feet of building space would be used to make the companies’ own products; the rest would be leased to suppliers and other renewable energy companies. The companies also are looking to add a university facility on site to conduct research and train engineers and other highly skilled workers.

Xtreme Power CEO Carlos Coe said the "vast majority" of hires would be people already living in Michigan, including those with a manufacturing background.

"They have a good base of knowledge to start from," he said. "What we’re going to teach them to do is build something completely different."

This story is an example of how clean energy can keep America competitive. By putting resources into a weak region of the economy, companies such as Xtreme Power and Clairvoyant Energy are creating jobs in a vital sector—manufacturing. And by planning for on-site research and training, these companies are proving that they understand how to keep American workers at the forefront of economic progress. Training workers and keeping a focus on manufacturing clean energy in the U.S. will help keep us sustainable, while at the same time giving our workforce a competitive edge.

How could your workplace focus more on clean energy? Let us know in the comments.

— Matthew Faraci

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