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Jonesboro wind plant opens with pitch to Congress

Nordex USA has begun production at its $40 million wind turbine factory in Jonesboro, the company announced Monday.The company, based in Germany, used the occasion to call for Congress to pass renewable energy legislation that would ensure a long-term market for the wind energy industry."Two...

Nordex USA has begun production at its $40 million wind turbine factory in Jonesboro, the company announced Monday.

The company, based in Germany, used the occasion to call for Congress to pass renewable energy legislation that would ensure a long-term market for the wind energy industry.

"Two years ago, we announced our intention to make Nordex wind turbines in the U.S., for the U.S.," said Ralf Sigrist, Nordex USP's president and CEO. "Today we're putting our hands to the metal and doing it. We hope Congress will do the same, by finally passing meaningful renewable energy legislation."

Nordex began construction about a year ago and completed the plant in July. The plant has currently has 42 workers but plans to eventually employ 700 people, with 80 percent of them from the Jonesboro area.

The company is also planning to build another Jonesboro factory, this one to assemble rotor blades.

Arkansas is home to several wind energy-related companies, including LM Wind Power in Little Rock. The Denmark-based company was earlier known as LM Glasfiber and makes windmill blades at two factories in the city.

German manufacturer Beckmann Volmer is planning a $10 million factory in Osceola to produce steel components for wind turbines that will employ up to 500 people. Mitsubishi has announced its intention to build a turbine plant in Fort Smith, but that project is on hold pending the outcome of patent litigation.

Sigrist has argued that prices for conventional fuels are unpredictable and can hurt the economy when they spike suddenly. He said wind is a predictable source for power and that prices can be locked in for up to 25 years.

"Wind energy has tremendous potential in the U.S., but it's about more than just creating green jobs," said Joe Brenner, vice president of production for Nordex. "We have to transfer expertise in order to build a wind industry work force. Nordex is investing in such a work force and bringing the needed skills to America."

The first crew at the Jonesboro plant has completed a 10-week training course at Nordex's main plant in Rostock, Germany. The company said workers from Germany will work in Jonesboro for several months to help train a growing number of new employees.

A formal grand opening is planned for the Jonesboro plant for Oct. 29.

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