A-Power Energy Generation Systems and the US Renewable Energy Group have signed a cooperation agreement under which both parties will commit to the construction of a new manufacturing and assembly facility in the United States. Once completed, the new plant will supply highly advanced wind energy industry products to the North and South American wind energy markets. The location of the new plant has not been disclosed.

The new plant, touted to be a state-of-the-art facility, will have about 320,000 square feet in area, and will be able to produce 1.1 GW of wind turbines annually. This production output is equivalent to clean electricity for about 330,000 average homes. Once operational, the facility is going to be able to employ 1000 American workers, with additional temporary jobs during construction.

Key wind turbine components to be used and assembled into wind turbines at the new plant will be sourced from domestic (US) companies, which will further increase the number of jobs in the country. This is a result of an initiative started back in 2007 by A-Power, which has been chosen by Shenyang Power Group (SPG) recently to build a 600 MW wind farm in Texas. A-Power holds shares in SPG, so the new production plant is a significant step for both companies and their involvement in the US wind market.

[source: US Renewable Energy Group]