USA - European companies target US wind industry

Many European companies that manufacture equipment for the wind industry are interested in establishing a manufacturing presence in Oklahoma, said Sandy Pratt, deputy director for business services for the Oklahoma Commerce Department. The Commerce Department was part of an Oklahoma delegation that recently returned from the 2009 European Wind Energy Conference in Marseille, France.

The delegation targeted the top 100 companies in the wind energy manufacturing business and had pre-set appointments with 21 of those, Pratt said. The delegation ended up meeting with nearly 80 companies and returned home with 12 turbine and component manufacturing companies that are viewed as top prospects, she said. One of those prospects already has scheduled a date to visit Oklahoma and two others are expected to give the state requests for proposals within a month, she said. For competitive reasons, Pratt declined to name the companies.

Emerging leadership The national focus on renewable energy and stimulus incentives has European manufacturers excited, Pratt said. Forecasts that Oklahoma could be the second highest wind energy provider in North America as soon as 2030 have put Oklahoma in a great position, she added.

"All of the executives that we spoke with indicated that their companies are posturing to establish a manufacturing presence in the U.S.," Pratt said. "They were very impressed that Oklahoma was one of a handful of states represented at the show, so it was a great opportunity for Oklahoma to be in front of so many opportunities in the wind industry."

Pratt said the Oklahoma delegation touted the state's location in the center of the North American wind corridor and its skilled work force in aerospace, metal fabrication and similar industries. "The opportunities for the state are to both attract manufacturing in the wind sector to the state, but also we connected with numerous companies that are looking for suppliers," she said.

The delegation met with companies from the United Kingdom, Belgium, Germany, France, Denmark, Spain, Japan, Canada, Korea, India, China and Ireland, as well as a few companies from the United States, she said. Oklahoma has about 20 wind power manufacturing companies now, but Pratt said she believes the potential is "unlimited."

For more information please contact Trevor Sievert at ts@windfair.net