Rolf Hirsenkorn, vice president of production for Polysilicon for Wacker Chemical, talks about the new Bradley County plant Monday at the Chattanooga Convention Center.
Staff Photo by Tim Barber/Chattanooga Times Free PressA top Wacker Chemical Corp. official said Monday that expansion of the company’s $1.5 billion plant under construction in Bradley County remains on its radar.
“If we are competitive at this site, there may be further plans to come,” said Rolf Hirsenkorn, vice president of polysilicon production for the German company.
Hirsenkorn, speaking at the Tennessee Valley Corridor technology summit in Chattanooga, said the facility that will service the solar energy industry already will create more than the 650 planned jobs when it’s finished in late 2013.
During construction, which started earlier this year, there will be 1,000 people on site at the peak, he said. Also, another 650 will supply and service the building site, Hirsenkorn said.
In addition, it’s estimated 650 spin-off jobs will be created in the area. The plant is expected to create 1,000 more supplier slots, he said.