German Company, Fuhrlander AG to Build Wind Turbine Plant near Butte, Montana
| March 5, 2008 |  View for printing |
German Company Announces Plans for Turbine Plant in Montana
A German company is planning to build a wind turbine manufacturing plant near Butte, Gov. Brian Schweitzer announced Tuesday.
Fuhrlander AG http://www.fuhrlaender.de/ of Waigandshain, Germany, says it hopes to start building the $25 million plant in the fall and finish by next year. It will employ about 150 people.
The company selected Montana for its North American manufacturing facility because of recent incentives adopted by the state, and plans for wind farm development in the region. It also said a favorable political environment, including Schweitzer's push for wind power, helped.
Company chairman Joachim Fuhrlander said an area near Butte was picked because of the available work force and training opportunities at Montana Tech.
Fuhrlander said it chose the Butte area over offers from other cities that included Billings, Great Falls, and Hardin.
He said the plant could add another 600 jobs if it decides to also build the blades at the Butte site. He said that decision will be based primarily on market conditions.
"We want to go step by step," Fuhrlander said, announcing the decision over a conference call at a news conference held by Schweitzer.
Fuhrlander said it has two manufacturing plants in Germany and is making plans to build new plants in other parts of the world. The Butte plant would produce turbines for the North American market, he said.
Wind turbines built at the plant will cost about $4 million each, and produce up to 2.5 megawatts of electricity. A megawatt is enough power for about 800 homes.
Schweitzer said the plant should help spur development of more wind farms in Montana since the turbines will now be manufactured in the state. Most turbines in the state are currently made by General Electric Co. and must be shipped great distances, Schweitzer said.
He said the plant is the second large project in the works following passage of the so-called "Clean and Green" package of tax incentives Schweitzer and lawmakers adopted last year. The other is the Montana-Alberta Tie Line that is scheduled to start construction within the year.
The company will be eligible for tax breaks from the incentives. The state Department of Commerce said the company is also looking at available state and federal loan programs, along with state work force training grants.
Schweitzer said the project will be a boost to the Butte economy. He said jobs will pay $15 to $25 an hour with benefits.
The company said it will be looking for skilled mechanics, electricians, welders as well as marketing and office staff.
By Matt Gouras, Associated Press Writer
http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/080304/mt_tu ... t.html?.v=2
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Montana Department of Commerce Awards Economic Feasibility Grant to Butte-Silver Bow County for a proposed Chafin-Fuhrlander Wind Turbine Manufacturing facility
The Montana Department of Commerce has awarded $15,000 in funding from the Community Development Block Grant – Economic Development (CDBG-ED) Program to Butte-Silver Bow County http://www.co.silverbow.mt.us/ to complete a feasibility study for a proposed Chafin-Fuhrlander Wind Turbine Manufacturing facility to be located in Montana.
The County will use the $15,000 in partnership with $25,000 from the Butte-Silver Bow Tax Increment Financed Industrial District (TIFD), and $10,000 from Chafin-Fuhrlander to conduct a feasibility study to determine current and future market demands for wind turbine generation machines, types required to meet market needs, regulatory climate, and timelines for production. The study will be conducted by the Butte-Silver Bow Community Development Department and Headwater RC&D.
“I am eager to assist in constructing a world class wind turbine manufacturing facility in Montana,” said Governor Brian Schweitzer. “Energy development is our future and its potential for economic growth is great. Montana is an ideal location for wind energy development and the ability to manufacture wind turbines in state is particularly exciting.”
“The Department is pleased to help Butte-Silver Bow with this feasibility study,” said Anthony Preite, Director of the Montana Department of Commerce. “The development of energy resources in Montana are extremely important to our economic development. The proposed Chafin-Furlander Wind Turbine Manufacturing facility would be a great resource for energy development and quality employment in Montana.”
Headwaters RC&D will assist with the facilitation of the project.
Montana's Community Development Block Grant – Economic Development (CDBG-ED) program is designed to stimulate economic development activity by assisting Montana's private sector in job creation or retention for low and moderate income persons.
The CDBG-ED program receives funding from the Community Development Block Grant program funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the Economic Development Administration.
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Marissa P. Kozel
Communications Director, Director's Office
Montana Department of Commerce
406-841-2772
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