Siemens Commissions New Wind Turbine-Powered Facility

Last week Siemens Drive Technologies and Winergy Drive Systems Corp. officially commissioned their second wind turbine joint venture at a facility located in Elgin, Illinois. The new $20 million facility will help to create over 300 new jobs for the production aspect, and an additional 55 office jobs over a three to four year period. The facility will single handedly double the current number of workers employed in Elgin.

Siemens was responsible for funding the venture raising more than $20 million to construct buildings which would house the wind turbine equipment. The facility itself is a green building as it was built using entirely recycled steel and designed by Siemens, utilising the company’s energy saving lighting and heat systems. The facility is Illinois’ first commercial facility to receive the LEED certification.

The specialised building materials, coupled with the energy efficient heat, cooling, and lighting systems are expected to save the companies more $500,000 per year in energy bills as well as decrease water consumption by 250,000 gallons per year.

“This facility is a great example of how sustainability has helped transition a traditional industry into a newer, greener one — increasing production, creating ‘green’ jobs and reducing its environmental footprint,” noted Parthiv Amin, president of Winergy Drive Systems Corp. “It is also a fine example of the company’s commitment to providing technologies that are produced in an environmentally responsible manner and promote energy efficiency.”

Elgin, Illinois was chosen for the project, because the state is currently offering a number of incentive programs aimed at helping companies secure investment funding for wind energy development. Siemens was able to render investments from the Wind Energy Development Grant, as well as the Employer Training Investment Program, set up as job training funds.

The new wind turbine-powered facility will be used to manufacture mechanical gear drives.