Wind turbine firms feel downturn’s pinch

Some put projects on hold, hope for industry rebound

Last summer, wind turbine manufacturers couldn’t make parts fast enough to meet demand. Now, industry executives say, financing has all but disappeared because of the economy, causing some planned projects to be put on hold. Unless there’s a robust economic rebound, or the government steps in, they say, construction of wind turbines nationwide will be set back, and the companies that make turbine parts could be forced to cut jobs.

The dim outlook, included in a new report from the American Wind Energy Association, a trade group, follows a record year for wind power business. The industry now employs about 85,000 people nationwide, up from 50,000 a year ago.

According to the association, wind projects completed in 2008 add up to more than 8,300 megawatts of generating capacity – enough electricity for 2 million homes – increasing the nation’s total capacity by about 50 percent.

But maintaining that momentum will be a challenge because of the recession, said the association’s chief executive, Denise Bode. Some orders for wind turbines are being canceled, Bode said, and unless the economy rebounds soon, there could be a 50 percent drop in projects. That would effectively set the industry back to where it was three years ago, she said.

Boston Globe