NC LED-maker Cree to produce more cheap lighting

DURHAM -- The buzz about green-industry jobs increases as a North Carolina maker of energy-efficient lighting announces an expansion. Gov. Beverly Perdue plans to be on hand Thursday as Cree Inc. CEO Chuck Swoboda announces the Durham-based company's hiring boost. The company is seeing growing demand for its light-emitting diode chips used in energy-efficient lights. The company reported in August that Cree was increasing capacity and adding workers at its plants in Durham and China. Cree has about 3,500 full-time workers, including 1,500 in Durham. In July, Swoboda was one of seven CEOs invited to discuss energy-efficient technologies with President Obama at the White House. (Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)