Distributed wind company will adopt more sustainable manufacturing practices and create more efficient production
Southwest Windpower announced today that it is a recipient of the Arizona Department of Commerce's Manufacturer's Energy-Efficiency Grant Assistance Program. The award of nearly $460,000 will allow Southwest Windpower to modernize its production line with a focus on lean manufacturing in order to produce its quality products at a lower cost. The cost savings will allow the company to remain competitive in the global market and to expand its labor workforce in Northern Arizona.
The US Department of Energy (DOE) invested $55 million of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding in Arizona’s State Energy Program (SEP). A large portion of those funds has been contracted for a variety of energy-related projects; the SEP reserved $2,735,000 of that funding for its Manufacturers’ Energy Efficiency Grant Assistance (MEGA) Program.
In its efforts to promote the creation and implementation of energy solutions, the MEGA program offered grants to manufacturers of renewable energy products to use toward the purchase of new energy-efficient machinery and equipment. Eligible applicants were required to demonstrate, among other criteria, that they had been in operation for at least two years, are expanding or relocating to Arizona and would create or retain at least two full-time employees for every $100,000 being requested.
A committee reviewed and scored the grant applications of those companies who met the eligibility requirements. Evaluation factors included:
• Job creation and/or retention
• The applicant’s ability to complete the project over the next 12 months
• Energy efficiency achieved / energy saved in relation to cost
Southwest Windpower’s plans include the creation of up to seven new positions and the retention of the labor force on the current production lines. New energy-efficient equipment such as air compressors and induction heaters along with updated energy-efficient lighting will not only be environmentally friendly, but will also enhance the work environment for employees.
About Southwest Windpower
Southwest Windpower has been designing and distributing small wind turbines for more than 22 years and is the recognized global leader in the design, manufacturing and distribution of small wind systems (400-3000 watts). The company has been a pioneer in the development of wind technology and has built and shipped more than 160,000 wind turbines to over 120 countries worldwide and has sales representation in over 88 countries. Headquartered in Flagstaff Ariz. it also has operations in Cologne, Germany and a joint venture in Ningbo, China. Applications for Southwest Windpower systems include residential homes, commercial properties, micro grids, remote cabins, telecom transmitters, offshore platforms, water pumping and sailboats. Southwest Windpower is the manufacturer of Skystream, Whisper and Air lines of distributed wind systems.
On the Web: www.windenergy.com
Contact:
Miriam Robbins
Southwest Windpower
+1 928 779 9463
miriam@windenergy.com
Published on: 2010-08-31
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