Large turbine blade factory slated for Wisconsin Rapids (WI)

[jpak]

http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2009/03/30/daily51.html

Energy Composites Corp., a Wisconsin Rapids manufacturer serving the wind power industry, plans to build a factory to produce wind power turbine blades in a project that's expected to create more than 400 jobs.

The Wisconsin Rapids company has signed a letter of intent with the city of Wisconsin Rapids to buy 54 acres for a 350,000-square-foot composites fabrication plant for manufacturing wind turbine blades. The project is part of a $15 million expansion project at Energy Composites, according to a March 31 report by the Wisconsin Rapids Tribune.

The city and the company expect to reach a final definitive agreement before June 1, after which Energy Composites will commence construction, according to a company press release Thursday. The city's Common Council must approve the deal in a meeting April 21.

“We contemplate that the blade factory will add more than 400 new jobs to the Wisconsin Rapids economy," Energy Composites CEO Sam Fairchild said."We are currently working with our local college, (Mid-State Technical College), to establish a training program now specializing in blade fabrication techniques as well as basic composites fabrication."

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[Ian David]

1. Wind Here, Solar Now, Pay Less! Generate, baby Generate! n/t

[glinda]

2. cooool!