ABERDEEN, S.D. (AP) — A wind turbine blade manufacturer in Aberdeen has called back 15 of the 92 employees who were laid off last month, after receiving new orders.
Molded Fiber Glass has received orders from the General Electric Co. for the 40-meter blade that it normally makes and also for a new, larger blade, Plant Manager Dave Giovannini told the American News (https://bit.ly/ReYF4N ). The molds for the 48.7-meter blades are being shipped.
"It is a significant development," Giovannini said.
Ohio-based Molded Fiber Glass announced in mid-September that it was laying off one-fourth of its workforce in Aberdeen due to a drop in orders related to uncertainty about the future of a federal wind energy production tax credit that expires at year's end.
More laid-off workers might be called back if Congress renews the tax credit, Giovannini said.
"Whether the legislation passes or not will end up determining the total volume of production," he said.
