LM Wind Power factory to employ 400 in Little Rock

On the heels of City Utilities of Springfield partnering with a North Carolina company to develop a small solar farm east of the city, news reports in Arkansas say a Danish blade manufacturer of wind turbines is adding 400 jobs in Little Rock, Ark.

LM Wind Power is adding more than 850 jobs between its Little Rock and Grand Forks, N.D., manufacturing operations by the end of the year, according to Arkansas Business.

In a news release, the company said it is adding manufacturing capacity to its U.S. operations to "support increased volumes from major customers" after Congress extended the Production Tax Credit late last year. The company expects to employ around 1,200 U.S. workers next year.

"We are pleased to see that the market is improving again following a period of low activity due to uncertainty around the [Production Tax Credit]," said Bill Burga Jr., LM Wind Power's U.S. operations leader. "With the political framework in place, our customers are winning more business again and we are ready to serve their demand for highly efficient quality blades for the U.S. market, adding hundreds of extra jobs. Now it is crucial that the politicians remain committed to securing a stable economic framework to enable continued industry growth and increased U.S. employment."

Read more at Arkansas Business.