Wind turbine blade plant for Neb? (200 green jobs from stimulus!)

http://www.omaha.com/article/20100109/NEWS01/701099887/0/SPECIAL10

By Henry J. Cordes WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER

If the word coming out of the White House Friday was accurate, Nebraska is set to become the home of a major wind turbine blade manufacturing plant.

President Barack Obama announced Friday $2.3 billion in stimulus tax credits intended to promote clean energy manufacturing projects across the country. Included on the list was more than $5 million in federal tax credits for TPI Composites Inc. to build a “next-generation” wind turbine blade manufacturing plant in Grand Island, employing more than 200 workers.

TPI has made no announcement of such a plant. But while the White House may have jumped the gun on the company’s intentions, neither TPI officials nor state economic developers Friday disputed the White House report.

TPI, based in Scottsdale, Ariz., released a statement praising Obama for his leadership on alternative energy. As to any new plants: “The company looks forward to announcing specific project plans in the future.”

Richard Baier, director of the Nebraska Department of Economic Development, confirmed that the state has shown TPI potential sites in Nebraska. But he said it’s “too early to start celebrating in the streets.”

“At this point we have not seen an application, nor are we in position to say this is a done deal,” Baier said. “I think there’s lots of work to be done before any renewable energy projects are ready to be announced in Nebraska.”

FULL story at link.