Corker says Wacker plant is on track

U.S. Sen. Bob Corker said Wednesday that Wacker Chemical Corp. officials assured him last week that their $1 billion polysilicon plant in Bradley County remains on track.

Last week, state and local officials reacted with reassurances after an online financial newsletter, New Energy Finance, said Wacker officials were waiting for market demand to pick up before going forward with the plant.

Sen. Corker, R-Tenn., said during an editorial board meeting at the Chattanooga Times Free Press that Wacker officials were in his office last week and said there's been no change in plans.

"It's not unusual that the economy would affect people's plans, but I didn't sense any lack of commitment," Sen. Corker said.

The plant will manufacture materials for the solar-energy industry and is estimated to bring 500 jobs.

Bill Toth, spokesman in Wacker's U.S. offices in Adrian, Mich., did not respond to phone calls and e-mails seeking comment Wednesday.

Sen. Corker also said there's no threat to Wacker's manufacturing supplies from a pending U.S. House bill affecting the Olin chlor-alkali plant in northern Bradley County.

The bill would give Olin three years to switch its manufacturing process away from mercury, an environmental toxin. Olin officials have said they can't meet the deadline and suggested the plant in Charleston, Tenn., might be shut down at a cost of 1,000 jobs.

Wacker officials said one reason they chose Bradley County was the proximity of the Olin plant, which will supply Wacker.

Sen. Corker said Olin signed a contract saying that, if the Charleston plant closes, it will supply Wacker from another of its plants.

Previously, the senator has supported an effort to give Olin more time to switch to cleaner technology, but he reiterated Wednesday that the plant "does need to change" its production.