Hemlock Semiconductor Group Brings New Polysilicon Capacity Online for Solar and...

Hemlock Semiconductor Group Brings New Polysilicon Capacity Online for Solar
and Semiconductor Industries

HEMLOCK, Mich., May 27 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The Hemlock Semiconductor
Group, which includes two Dow Corning joint ventures, has commenced operation
of a new 8,500 metric tons polycrystalline silicon (polysilicon) production
facility at its Hemlock, Mich. location.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090527/DE22631 )

This new capacity, which has been brought online several months ahead of
schedule, represents the completion of the first phase of the $1 billion
expansion the Michigan site announced in May of 2007. The second phase of
this capacity expansion will begin to come online in 2010 and, together with
the first phase, will increase the total annual capacity to approximately
36,000 metric tons.

"The new capacity from our latest expansion is a critical milestone to ensure
our customers' confidence that they will have the silicon feedstock needed for
the semiconductor and fast-growing solar energy industries," said Hemlock
Semiconductor Group President and CEO Rick Doornbos. "It takes a tremendous
team effort to be able to deliver an expansion of this magnitude ahead of
schedule, and we're very proud of our team for making it happen."

In the last five years, Hemlock Semiconductor has announced investments
totaling more than $4 billion. These investments will expand Hemlock
Semiconductor's capacity by nearly 10 times while creating more than 1,500 new
jobs. These jobs are in addition to the 1,000-1,800 construction contractors
on site every day.

"Despite the economic recession, the long-term outlook for the solar market
remains strong," said Doornbos. "Our demonstrated capabilities to deliver
recent capacity expansions on or ahead of schedule and our more than 40 years
of technical and manufacturing experience puts Hemlock Semiconductor in a
strong position to help our customers succeed in an industry that continues to
show promise and growth."

"This latest achievement is the result of outstanding planning and execution
by our team with a strong focus on safety from start to finish," said Jim
Cross, site manager of Hemlock Semiconductor's Michigan site.

Later this year, Hemlock Semiconductor Group will also begin construction of a
new polysilicon manufacturing facility in Clarksville, Tennessee, which is
scheduled to be operational in 2012. Excavation has already begun at the
site.

In solar applications, polycrystalline silicon is the cornerstone material
used to produce solar cells that harvest renewable energy from light rays. In
addition to serving the solar energy market, polysilicon is also used in the
production of semiconductor devices used in computers, cell phones and other
electronic applications.

Dow Corning Corporation (www.dowcorning.com) provides performance-enhancing
solutions to serve the diverse needs of more than 25,000 customers worldwide.
A global leader in silicon-based technology and innovation, offering more than
7,000 products and services, Dow Corning is equally owned by The Dow Chemical
Company (NYSE: DOW) and Corning, Incorporated (NYSE: GLW). More than half of
Dow Corning's annual sales are outside the United States.

The Hemlock Semiconductor Group (www.hscpoly.com) is comprised of two joint
ventures: Hemlock Semiconductor Corporation and Hemlock Semiconductor, L.L.C.
The companies are joint ventures of Dow Corning Corporation, Shin-Etsu
Handotai and Mitsubishi Materials Corporation. Hemlock Semiconductor is a
leading provider of polycrystalline silicon and other silicon-based products
used in the manufacturing of semiconductor devices and solar cells and
modules. Hemlock Semiconductor began its Michigan operations in 1961 and broke
ground at its Tennessee location in 2009.

SOURCE Dow Corning Corporation

Leslie Orozco (Hemlock Semiconductor), +1-989-642-5201 x 2269,
Leslie.Orozco@dowcorning.com; or Jarrod Erpelding (Dow Corning),
+1-989-496-1582, Jarrod.Erpelding@dowcorning.com