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Louisville, Ky. (WHAS11) -- GE created a wave of new jobs as a new hybrid water heater rolls off the assembly line.
A lot of fanfare was heard inside the newest factory building at GE Appliance Park. The first to be revamped since 1957.
It's all because of the Geo Spring Hybrid Water Heater, made in the United States instead of in China.
"Over the years we watched this building get holes in the roof. It was falling down. It look like a ghost town. I want you to look right here, GE chose a green location right here in Louisville Kentucky," union president Jerry Carne said.
The product helps to employ 100 union workers on its assembly line along with hundreds of industrial designers and engineers.
Tim Taylor was seen by millions in the Super Bowl commercial about GE's green initiatives. His parents retired from the Appliance Park after 35 years on the job.
Taylor: "I've been here a month."
WHAS 11 News: "How is the month going so far?"
Taylor: "Killer! I love it. Said I've always wanted to work here."
With the eco-friendly water heaters, customers will use half the energy and cut hundreds of dollars off their utility bills a year.
The company will invest $800 million into Louisville and will create more than 1,300 US jobs by 2014.
Seven product lines, including bottom freezers plus washers and dryers, will be produced in Louisville.
"It is a GE success this is also part of a community transformation as well," Mayor Greg Fischer about the announcement said.
GE received more than 6,000 job applications and has a waiting line. The new water heaters hit retail stores in March.
"This project is an excellent example of what happens when government sits down and works with our greatest resource, our existing Kentucky companies," Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear said.
