Windspire turbine manufacturing plant to bring 120 new jobs

Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm was on hand today as wind turbine manufacturer Mariah Power opened their first high-volume turbine manufacturing facility in the town of Manistee. The new plant, a retrofitted auto parts automation manufacturing facility, will employ former auto industry workers who have prior experience working with steel, building auto assembly lines and auto robotics.

Mariah's new facility will produce Mariah's Windspire vertical axis wind turbines, which are designed for small scale and residential applications. Beginning operations with 30 new employees building 100 Windspire wind turbines per month,  Mariah has plans to boost production to 1,000 wind turbines per month and expanding to 120 employees over the next three years.

"As we continue our efforts to diversify and grow our state's economy, we are proud to celebrate the opening of the Windspire manufacturing facility and the new energy jobs this will create in northern Michigan," said Governor Jennifer M. Granholm. "This investment puts us at the forefront in the production of renewable energy to end U.S. dependence on foreign oil and fossil fuels."

Mariah is not the only wind energy company turning to Michigan to take advantage of the state's skilled workforce and favorable incentives for green job creation, just two weeks ago Global Wind Systems confirmed their new turbine manufacturing facility in Novi, outside of Detroit.