'Out of hibernation' | Siemens Gamesa restarts US plants as it flags wind industry challenges
German-Spanish OEM cautions outlook for its blade and nacelle plants tied to industry barriers that must be addressed even with landmark climate law on the books
Turbine giant Siemens Gamesa is resuming US blade manufacturing and nacelle assembly, while calling on policymakers to address pressing challenges that “must be cleared” for wind to play a key role in the country’s future energy system.
“At this time, Siemens Gamesa has returned the Fort Madison, Iowa, blade facility to production, and we are in the initial stages to return the Hutchinson, Kansas, nacelle facility to production over the next month,” Shannon Sturgill, CEO Onshore North America, said in an email.
Last summer, the OEM placed both plants in “hibernation” after demand for turbines plummeted amid uncertainty over whether Congress would renew the production tax credit (PTC), the industry’s main subsidy, which had expired at the end of 2021. About 263 employees received separation packages.