The largest producer of wind turbine gear drives in the United States, Siemens Energy & Automation, is creating a $20 million second plant in Elgin, IL. A groundbreaking ceremony was held in June, and the plant is expected to be completed by March 2009. Siemens employs 150 people at the existing Elgin plant; the additional plant will create 300 production jobs and 55 office jobs over the next three to four years. The existing plant will continue manufacturing gears and components, which will be assembled and tested at the new plant once it begins production.

 

“Siemens is committed to providing technologies that promote energy efficiency and reduce costs,” says Anne Cooney, vice president of the power conversion division for Siemens. “Combined with the expertise and product knowledge we have in Elgin, the new facility will enable Siemens to increase production of our mechanical drives to help our customers meet the growing demand for sustainable energy resources.”

 

Siemens was given incentives from the State of Illinois and the City of Elgin including a Wind Energy Development Grant and Employer Training Investment Program job training funds.