At the American Wind Energy Association’s (AWEA) national conference last week, wind turbine companies talked about the importance of being able to source components from U.S. suppliers for what they see as the world’s largest wind market.
Siemens Energy held a U.S. supplier workshop to expand the number of companies that can supply components for its wind turbines. Siemens, Gamesa, Suzlon Wind Energy, GE Energy, Vestas Wind Systems and Clipper Windpower all plan to build turbines in the U.S. and want to include more American-made components, such as gear boxes, bearings and blades in their machines.
Unfortunately, the continued absence of clear federal policy to support long-term wind development is preventing increased investment in U.S. production facilities and wind jobs.
Siemens received one of its largest orders to date last month – 218 wind turbines from FPL Energy, the largest U.S. wind developer. Siemens will produce the blades for the turbines in a Iowa facility that opened in 2007.
Bob Gates of Clipper Windpower noted that tremendous growth in all forms of renewable energy could reinvigorate the nation’s dwindling manufacturing sector.
The industry thought it was over the hump of the long-term extension of the production tax credit – needed to offer stable, predictable incentives for wind generation to further the industry’s investment to build a supply chain, panelists said.
They noted their are other places they can spend their money, if the U.S. doesn’t come through.
Loading...