The story has already hit the WSJournal and the Wichita Biz Journal, so, even though the official announcement is not until 4:00 today - here goes!

Siemens has announced that today it will announce that it will be constructing a $50 million, 300,000 sq. ft. nacelle manufacturing facility in Hutch, KS that will employ 400 workers (nacelles are basically the center of a wind turbine - the section that is about the size of a schoolbus and has all the tiny moving parts, components, gearboxes, etc. packed inside). Siemens will also build a 80,000-square-foot service and repair facility on 100 acres in Reno County.

Construction will begin this August, and the first nacelle is scheduled for completion in 2010.

According to the WBJ:

Siemens officials say the site was chosen because of its central location, as well as the area’s rail access, which will provide for direct loading at the facility.

“This nacelle facility in Kansas means we are able to further expand U.S. dollar-based sourcing from qualified suppliers,” said Rene Umlauft, CEO of the Siemens Energy Renewables Division. “It is our goal to reach greater than 90 percent U.S. dollar-based content by 2012 in order to better and more cost-efficiently meet the demand for our high-quality wind turbines in the U.S.”

CEP's official statement from Executive Director Nancy Jackson:

Kansas should congratulate itself - the state has attracted one of the premier energy companies in the world. Siemens will bring engineering excellence, manufacturing might, and global stature to Reno County.

Siemens’ arrival also signals what the nation now expects of Kansas – that we will feed AND fuel the nation.

Siemens’ announcement should focus the energy of Kansas policymakers and entrepreneurs alike to get ambitious – now, today – about harnessing our wind resource. Kansas has what it takes, so let’s get it done.

(Unofficially - and now we must all learn how to correctly spell Siemens!)

--- Maril Hazlett, www.climateandenergy.org