Broadwind to Build Wind Towers for Iowa Project

Nov. 3, 2011
Siemens orders 36 units for MidAmerican Energy expansion, options 25 more

Siemens AG is leading the expansion of an Iowa wind farm, and has assigned Broadwind Energy to build 36 new windmill towers for the project, with an option for 25 more towers. Last December, MidAmerican Energy announced a 593.4-MW expansion of its installation in Cass, Adams, Marshall, Calhoun, and Adair Counties. When the project is complete MidAmerican Energy will generate more than 25% of its annual electrical generating capability from wind.

MidAmerican Energy also generates geothermal, hydroelectric, and biomass energy.

Broadwind did not report the value of the contract, but it said it expects to deliver the towers during Q2 and Q2 2012.

“We are pleased that Siemens has selected Broadwind to supply towers for this project, which confirms our original strategy of focusing on the taller and heavier multi-megawatt towers,” stated Broadwind Towers president Paul Smith. “This is our first tower order with Siemens, and fits well with our strategy of diversifying our customer base.”

Broadwind Energy is a Naperville, Ill.-based machining and fabricating company that specializes in projects for energy and infrastructure markets. The towers will be fabricated at Broadwind’s Manitowoc, Wis., plant. The company has manufactured more than 1,000 wind towers to date, and claims to be the U.S. market leader in production of multi-megawatt wind turbine towers.

“Broadwind’s capacity and location, coupled with extensive experience fabricating taller and heavier towers, made them an ideal partner for Siemens in Iowa,” according to Siemens Energy’s Kevin Hazel.