MORGANTOWN, Ky., July 26 Wind Energy Corp. announced plans for a new manufacturing facility in Morgantown, Ky.
The high-tech start-up company, founded in April, said it will develop, manufacture and sell next-generation turbines to the middle wind market segment, Expansion Management reported.
More than 260 full-time jobs are expected to be created by the plant within five years. Wind Energy also said it plans on expanding its headquarters in Elizabethtown, Ky., as well by 35 full-time positions.
Wind Energy said it expects manufacturing to begin by the end of the year. The turbines it will produce are different from traditional, propeller-driven turbines.
Traditional turbines require at least 8-12 miles per hour wind speeds and about an acre of land for each turbine while Wind Energy's product is designed to operate in as little as 4 mph of wind without motors and the company claims they are not harmful to birds
"We are working hard to bring an economically viable wind turbine to market, and Kentucky has been our greatest fan," said Gregory Thomson, the company's president and chief executive officer. "We have a dedicated team at Wind Energy and are all excited and grateful for the support from Kentucky and the city of Morgantown."
The Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority preliminarily approved up to nearly $3.5 million in tax benefits for Wind Energy under the Kentucky Rural Economic Development Act, which provides incentives to attract and expand manufacturing employment in the state.
Copyright 2007 by UPI
