United Steelworkers Sign on To A-Power's US Wind Projects

The United Steelworkers (USW) union has signed agreements with A-Power Energy Generation Systems Ltd, (NASDAQ: APWR) and Shenyang Power Group (SPG) to work collaboratively on all aspects of the companies’ U.S.
market strategies including manufacturing, assembly, component sourcing,
distribution and wind energy project development.

The agreement is a major public relations win for the Chinese companies, which are building a large wind farm in Texas as well as a turbine manufacturing plant in Nevada. Upon announcement of the projects there was a bit of an outcry that foreign firms were winning stimulus funds for renewable energy projects in the U.S. The endorsement by USW will undoubtedly convince politicians and the public that the cleantech jobs created by the projects benefit U.S. workers.

“We will work with A-Power and SPG to create long-term, good-paying,
green American jobs,” said USW International President Leo W. Gerard.
“The USW is committed to building a strong domestic supply chain that
will be key to the future of America’s global renewable energy
leadership.” A-Power and SPG anticipate purchasing over time
approximately 50,000 tons of steel to be manufactured in unionized
American steel mills to supply the towers for the 615-megawatts (MW)
wind farm in Texas.

U.S. development partner is United States Renewable Energy Group is also involved in the project.

“This is obviously the first cooperative agreement between the USW and a company headquartered in China, and it is appropriate that we recognize the expertise and insight of Cappy McGarr and Ed Cunningham of the U.S. Renewable Energy Group who brought together this landmark cooperation,” said Gerard.

The USW is the largest industrial union in North America, representing 850,000 active workers employed in manufacturing, energy, public and the service sectors. It is the dominant union in metals, mining, pulp and paper, rubber, oil, chemicals, cement and glass, but also represents professional and technical workers, nurses, pharmacists, hospital and municipal employees.

A-Power Energy Generation Systems Ltd. through its China-based operating subsidiaries, is one of the largest provider of distributed power generation systems in China. In 2008, A-Power entered the wind energy market and has built China’s largest wind turbine manufacturing facility, located in Shenyang, Liaoning Province, with a total annual production capacity of 1,125MW. In March 2009, A-Power entered into an agreement to establish a Joint Venture partnership with GE Drivetrain Technologies to produce wind turbine gearboxes in Shenyang.

SPG is a renewable energy industry alliance based in Shenyang, China. SPG’s member companies range from power equipment makers to engineering service providers, including A-Power.

The United States Renewable Energy Group is a U.S.-based private equity firm that mobilizes and facilitates the participation of international financing and investment in large-scale renewable energy projects within the United States.