A wind turbine manufacturer announced Friday it will employ 700 people at a $100 million plant it plans to build in Jonesboro.If I recall correctly, major blade maker LM Glasfiber began operations in Arkansas last year amid accusations that the wages actually offered were lower than those promised when the deal was negotiated. I can't find the link but here's an Oct. 25 help-wanted ad:
German-based Nordex USA Inc. said it plans to begin production in January 2010 on every component of a wind turbine except the tower.
Employees will earn an average of $17 an hour working in a new plant to be built on 187 acres in the Craighead Technology Park, the company said....MORE
LM GLASFIBER HIRING IMMEDIATELYThe Nordex announcement follows the news (relayed by the Climate and Energy Project blog) of another European wind company setting up shop in Arkansas:
NEW LITTLE ROCK FACILITY
LM Glasfiber is the world's leading manufacturer of rotor blades for wind turbines.
POSITIONS AVAILABLE:PRODUCTION TECHNICIANS
Starting at $12.13 per hour 12 Hours - Weekend Shift
Additional 830 wind manufacturing jobs coming to Arkansas (ArkansasNews.com). Quotable:
Polymarin Composites, an international wind turbine blade manufacturer, will locate a new North American factory at the old Levi’s plant in Little Rock. In addition, Wind Water Technology, a supplier to Polymarin, will locate in the same facility. All told, 830 jobs averaging $15 per hour will be hired over the next four years. The two companies will invest $20 million to upgrade the closed Levi’s facility.
Congressional renewal of a production tax credit for alternative energy as part of last week’s $700 billion federal economic rescue package was a factor for the decision to locate in the U.S. Little Rock is also the North American headquarters of another major wind turbine blade maker, LM Glasfiber.
