JOPLIN, Mo. —
The positive side of wind — as a job creator for Joplin area companies — took center stage Wednesday when U.S. Rep. Billy Long toured Able Manufacturing and Assembly to learn more about wind turbine components produced by the plant.
Joplin area manufacturers produce a number of parts used in wind energy production, and the region could become an actual producer of wind energy if a site under contract in northern Jasper County is developed as a wind farm.
Jim Schwarz, president of Able Manufacturing, said wind industry is a growing element of business for the company that employs 330 workers.
Joplin’s proximity to wind farms and suppliers also has spurred the development of a local organization that markets local companies as suppliers. About 20 businesses are involved in the group, along with three colleges in the area, according to Kevin Welch, who works at the Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce as part of the Joplin Regional Prosperity Initiative.
“We’re right in the middle of an area that has a lot of original equipment manufacturers for the wind industry,” he said. “With our proximity to them and wind farms, it’s a growing market.”
Able Manufacturing produces nose cones, blade housings and other components for the three largest manufacturers of turbines used in the wind industry, according to Craig Forcum, production manager with the company. FAG Bearings produces bearings used in the turbines. Welch said a dozen companies in the Joplin area and Southeast Kansas currently manufacture for the industry or “could retool” to do so.
The company also works with Franklin Technology Center and colleges in the area, said Susan Adams, human resources director.
“Their auto body programs lend themselves to our process,” she said. “We have 10 job openings we could fill today.”
Currently, wind farms closest to the region are in Southeast Kansas. One may be developed in northern Jasper County if Iberdrola Renewables decides to move forward on property owned by more than 50 landowners that is under lease to the company, the second largest owner of wind firms in the United States. The company still is waiting on evaluations of the site, and the economy is another factor, said Paul Copleman, communications manager.
“We’ve completed the land acquisition work that we envisioned, and we have four meteorological towers on the site,” he said. “We’ve done some very preliminary environmental work, but it’s still too early to know if the site is economically viable.”
Understanding wind patterns at a potential site “is a multiyear project,” he said, “and with the economy right now, prices are down on all forms of energy.”
After Long’s tour of the Joplin plant, the lawmaker said he had been unaware of the amount of work involving the wind industry under way in Joplin. The visit was arranged by the American Wind Energy Association, whose officials are lobbying Congress on behalf of a production tax credit that would benefit the industry. Maggie Lemmerman, manager of federal legislative affairs for the association, accompanied Long on the plant tour.
“Everyone is interested in renewable energy,” Long said.
President Barack Obama next week is to unveil a new jobs plan. Long said the nation “doesn’t need a jobs project. We need to make it easier for American companies to do business.
“Now, we over-regulate, over-tax-ate and over-litigate.”
FEMA funds
REP. BILLY LONG said he is confident that Joplin is not in danger of losing Federal Emergency Management Agency disaster funding in the wake of Hurricane Irene. He said he met last week with Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and FEMA Director Craig Fugate. He said funding will have to be allocated in the new federal fiscal year, adding, “Money delayed does not mean money denied.”
Local News
Related Photos
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Andy Berliew works on a rain deflector for a wind turbine Wednesday morning at Able Manufacturing and Assembly in Joplin. Area manufacturers produce a number of parts used in wind energy production, and a site under contract in northern Jasper County is being considered for a wind farm. GLOBE | ROGER NOMER
Discussion
Wind energy powers area jobs, investment
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