General Electric just announced that it will be producing highly energy efficient hybrid water heaters in Louisville, Kentucky. The hybrid water heaters are the first water heaters to meet the Department of Energy’s stricter 2009 Energy Star standards. The water heaters use about 1/2 the energy of conventional water heaters. Manufacturing them in Kentucky will also create about 400  new jobs.

In a post on the Sustainability Ninja, James Campbell, GE’s Consumer and Industrial President and CEO, commented on the decision:

“We made the decision to build these products in Louisville because of the strong support from our state and local governments and the cooperative spirit of our Union leadership and our employees at Appliance Park. This clearly indicates GE’s vote of confidence in this facility and our employees as a place where we can invest in our future, continuing our 50+ year history,” said GE Consumer & Industrial President and CEO James Campbell. “Leadership from Governor Steve Beshear, Mayor Jerry Abramson, IUE-CWA President Jerry Carney and many others will help rebuild America’s manufacturing base, create jobs and enable innovative, energy-efficient American-made products to be competitive in the marketplace

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