Siemens Energy has selected Hutchinson, Kan., for its first U.S. nacelle production facility. The 300,000 square-foot nacelle facility and an adjacent 80,000 square-foot service and repair facility will be built on more than 100 acres in Reno County.
The operation is expected to create an estimated 400 green-collar jobs and will be the first major wind turbine equipment factory in Kansas, which is ranked third in the U.S. for its wind energy resource potential. The new Siemens facilities in Hutchinson will allow Siemens to better meet the strong demand for wind turbines in the Americas.
‘The United States already is and will continue to be one of the world's fastest-growing wind energy markets,’ says Peter Loscher, CEO of Siemens AG. ‘We are thus intensifying our commitment to this green technology to further expand our leading global position in this field.’
Construction on the new nacelle production facility is expected to begin in August, and the first 90-ton nacelle is expected to be shipped from the factory in December 2010. The nacelles that are made at the Hutchinson facility will be used for the company's 2.3 MW wind turbine product family.
Initially, the factory's planned annual output is approximately 650 nacelles. The service and repair facility is planned to start up sooner, using temporary space in the area until the new facility is completed.
SOURCE: Siemens Energy Inc.
