Cape Wind To Purchase Siemens Offshore Wind Turbines

Cape Wind has entered into an agreement with Siemens (NYSE: SI) to supply 130 of its 3.6-megawatts (MW) turbines for the Massachusetts offshore wind farm.

Siemens also announced plans to open a U.S. Offshore Wind office in Boston in June 2010.

Siemens is currently the leading provider of offshore wind turbines. The company has a strong presence in the U.S. with approximately 1,000 employees and more than $100 million invested in two manufacturing locations for onshore wind turbines. Siemens has sold 1,000 of its 3.6-MW offshore wind turbines and 150 units have been installed worldwide to date.

Cape Wind completed State and Local permitting in 2008 and is awaiting a final Federal permitting decision from U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar who has recently stated he will make his decision by the end of April.  

“We understand that the Department of Interior is working hard to provide certainty to the project and we look forward to the decision.  It will signal to manufacturers and investors alike that the United States is a sustainability leader in its support for a clean, reliable energy supply and green jobs creation,” Randy Zwirn, President and CEO of Siemens Energy, Inc. said.

“We are thrilled Siemens is bringing wind jobs to Massachusetts by opening up its U.S. Offshore Wind office in Boston. This agreement between Cape Wind and Siemens represents a major step forward to jumpstarting the American offshore wind industry and increasing energy independence, creating a healthier environment while producing hundreds of clean energy jobs,” said Jim Gordon, Cape Wind President.

Gerard Dhooge, President of the Boston & New England Maritime Trades Council, AFL-CIO, welcomed the news of the agreement between Cape Wind and Siemens, “Skilled maritime workers are ready to get to work to help install these wind turbines offshore Massachusetts and to build America’s first offshore wind farm.  Thirty to fifty percent of the members of the Maritime Trades Council are currently out of work so we need these jobs now more than ever.”