The St. Lawrence Seaway System reports that it saw a rise in international vessels delivering wind turbine components for wind projects in the midwestern U.S. and western Canada in May.
According to Rebecca Spruill, the Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corp.'s director of trade development, the expiring production tax credit (PTC) had a lot to do with the increase in shipments.
‘The Port of Ogdensburg welcomed three ships carrying wind components and expects four more vessels in June,’ Spruill notes. "Shippers are pushing to transport turbines to wind farms before year's end in order to take advantage of the expiring tax credit deadline."
The Port of Indiana-Burns Harbor handled its first shipment of wind components in May and has seen major increases in several steel products, as well as industrial and agricultural cargoes, resulting in a 6% increase in 2012 shipments through the first five months.
