LAS VEGAS (AP) -- A group of companies is announcing plans to build a wind turbine manufacturing plant in the Las Vegas area that officials say could employ about 1,000 people.

A statement Thursday by private equity firm U.S. Renewable Energy Group, Chinese company A-Power Energy Generation Systems Ltd. and real estate developer American Nevada Company of Henderson said the 320,000-square-foot plant would be one of the largest manufacturing employers in southern Nevada. A site has not been selected.

American Nevada and the Las Vegas Sun are Greenspun Corp. subsidiaries. Greenspun Corp. chief Bruce Deifik says the wind-energy turbines would be manufactured for projects in North and South America.

US-REG and A-Power executives credited U.S. Sen. Harry Reid with encouraging them to put the plant in Nevada.