8/8/11 – The wind tower manufacturer that constructed turbines for the Glacier Hills Wind Farm in Columbia County is reporting high second quarter sales. Broadwind Energy Inc. says sales of turbines made in Manitowoc and other factories rose 48% in the second quarter for the firm. Sales of wind towers totaled $24.5 million, up $8 million from last year. For the first six months of the year, sales were nearly doubled, to $52.7 million. Broadwind Energy is based in Naperville, Illinois and is the parent company of the former TowerTech in Manitowoc. The Manitowoc factory produced towers now under construction for We Energies Glacier Hills Wind Park near Friesland. Towers accounted for nearly two-thirds of the sales for Broadwind Energy, which says it is diversifying beyond wind power into industrial businesses, and said it’s seeing strong demand from the oil and gas sector. CEO Peter Duprey says he considers Broadwind “well positioned on the tower side” to pick up business as wind developers move to build projects by the end of 2012, when wind energy production tax credits are slated to expire. The 90 wind turbines at Glacier Hills are on track to be completed by the end of 2011. The project will produce up to 162 megawatts, capable of providing power to more than 45,000 homes.
