WORLD WIND ENERGY NET

KEOKUK, Iowa — Nearly 400 new jobs are coming to Keokuk after a Wisconsin company announced plans Wednesday to build a $32 million wind turbine tower plant on the city's riverfront.

Hendricks Industries officials hope to have the plant fully operational in about a year. Keokuk officials say it's the single largest economic development boost in years in the area. The new plant will be located on Twin Rivers Drive.

"We want to create the renewable energy capital of the United States right here in Iowa and with these exciting announcements we're on our way," Iowa Gov. Chet Culver said.

Keokuk Mayor David Gudgel said the plant will bring "well-paying jobs to a town that truly has been struggling. This announcement truly will be recognized throughout the state."

Hendricks Industries is the fourth major wind energy manufacturer to build a plant in Iowa in two years. The state is now third in the country in wind energy production.

Wind energy is a fast-growing market expected to reach $10 billion this year. Iowa has already recruited big names in the industry like Clipper Windpower, Acciona Energy and Siemens Power Generation.

Hendricks Industries officials said it would spend $2.5 million upgrading the Southeast Iowa Port Terminal.

Local officials said the announcement has huge economic impact. Lee County's unemployment rate averaged 5.8 percent from January through August, with the state average 3.5 percent.

Turbine towers stand 260 feet tall and weigh about 80 tons. Company officials said factory workers could earn an average of $48,800 annually to build the towers, and port workers could earn nearly $40,000 a year.

Hendricks industries is owned by Ken Hendricks, a Wisconsin-based entrepreneur who was 107th on Forbes' 400 richest Americans list last year. He bought the Denmark company about a year ago. During a press conference Wednesday, he said he was attracted by Keokuk's port terminals and efficient shipping by barge on the Mississippi River.

National experts say wind energy generates less than 1 percent of the nation's power, but it is the fastest-growing new power generator.

Hendricks was first attracted to Keokuk's port terminal, and then considered the kinds of products that would best benefit from inexpensive transportation.

Iowa is the No. 1 producer of ethanol in the United States. It ranks third in wind energy production, behind Texas and California.

Culver said "Iowa could be the next Silicon Valley" because of wind energy.