(AP) -- Ford Motor Co. Executive Chairman Bill Ford Jr. and Gov. Jennifer Granholm have formally announced plans to redevelop a closed auto plant near Detroit as the nation's largest renewable energy park. Ford and Granholm spoke at the Wixom site Thursday with officials from Xtreme Power of Kyle, Texas, and Clairvoyant Energy of Santa Barbara, Calif. The companies plan to buy the 320-acre Wixom Assembly Plant if state tax incentives and federal loans are approved.
Ford says he "can't imagine a better way to reuse the facility." The state Senate approved the tax breaks Thursday and OK'd additional business tax credits because Michigan is out of incentives it can give this year.
The Ford plant closed in 2007. The park could employ 2,800 workers building storage batteries and solar panels.
(Copyright ©2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
