USA - Acciona opens wind turbine plant in Iowa

Spanish renewable energy firm Acciona has opened its first wind turbine production facility in the US at West Branch, Iowa. The facility is expected to produce 200 of Acciona's AW1500 wind turbines in 2008. Acciona stated that the facility will have a peak capacity to produce around 400 wind turbines per annum. The facility was built in seven months with an investment of E15.4 million.

The West Branch facility will mainly supply wind turbines for Acciona Energy's wind power projects in North America, a key market in the company's expansion strategy, and also for other customers.

The facility is Acciona Windpower's fourth production plant, following two in Spain and one in China. The facility's entry into service brings the company's total production capacity to 2,280MW per annum.

The institutions of Iowa have reportedly shown their full support for the construction of this plant, with the objective of making the state an international benchmark in renewable energy facilities.