Business

August 25, 2010

Wind may bring 400 jobs to region

WindTamer Corporation has ties to Clarks Summit, Wilkes-Barre

By Christopher J. Hughes chughes@golackawanna.com
Go Lackawanna Editor

SCRANTON – A wind turbine development company with ties to Northeastern Pennsylvania hopes to build a manufacturing facility in the region by next year, company officials said today.

Executives from WindTamer Corporation, based out of Rochester, NY, toured facilities in Jessup today and plan to visit at least two locations in Wilkes-Barre in the coming weeks.

The hope, according to President and CEO Bill Schmitz, is to bring a full facility to Pennsylvania by January 1, 2011, if not sooner. Schmitz said nearly 400 jobs could be created over the next three years if their projections are accurate.

“As we continue to evolve, we’d like to bring more of the key processes in house. Our thought is that we’d build those key components here,” Schmitz said.

“We think that Scranton is a very good next step for us.”

The company has put nearly 50 different turbines in various locations across the Rochester area and sees small wind turbines, those that produce 100 kilowatts of power or less, as a viable space for commercial, residential and agricultural growth.

“We’re going for the individual, small business owner,” Schmitz said. “This part of Pennsylvania, with the wind coming over the mountains, is perfect.”

One of WindTamer’s original distributors, BCM Green Power Solutions, Inc., is located at 67 Public Square, Wilkes-Barre. CEO Curtis Mattingly said he’s excited to be at the forefront of the technology.

“This is the first product that I’ve seen that makes sense as an alternative energy solution,” Mattingly said. “It really addresses the return for investment that most consumers want.”

BCM recently installed a wind turbine near the Mellow Athletic and Wellness Center on the campus of Marywood University. Marywood Communications Director Juneann Greco said the turbine will provide power for the school’s new Aquatic Center, which is set to open in early 2011.

Another turbine has been sold to the Johnny Rockets restaurant at 5 Radcliffe Dr., Moosic, according to Mattingly and WindTamer consultant Michael Hughes, a Clarks Summit resident.

Schmitz said that small turbines start around $15,000. A larger model costs as much as $30,000.

The turbines can be mounted to rooftops, Cherrie Mahon, vice president of investor relations, added.

Pennsylvania is seen as a primary market for growth, Schmitz said. Additional markets may include the Rocky Mountains in Colorado.

“We’re going to follow the wind a bit,” Schmitz said.

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