Synthaholic
Diamond Member
Siemens to lay off 400+ Iowa workers; congressional failure to renew wind credit blamed
Siemens has notified local communities that it is reducing the workforces at its blade manufacturing plants at Fort Madison and Hutchinson, Kan.
Siemens spokesperson Melanie Forbrick says 407 employees will be laid off at the Fort Madison plant. A total of 220 will remain at the plant, which has 600,000 square feet. The Fort Madison plant is the largest employer in the city.
The layoff will be the second in Iowa this year. Clipper Windpower in Cedar Rapids reduced its workforce there by 76 workers of its 300 employees beginning on Aug. 27.
Wind energy interests have warned that job losses are inevitable if the 2.2 cents per kilowatt hour production tax credit is not renewed by congress before its Dec. 31 expiration.
U.S. Sen. Charles Grassley said that the tax credit is part of a package of so-called "extenders," also including the $1 per gallon tax credit for biodiesel, that are to be taken up by congress after the November election.
Siemens has notified local communities that it is reducing the workforces at its blade manufacturing plants at Fort Madison and Hutchinson, Kan.
Siemens spokesperson Melanie Forbrick says 407 employees will be laid off at the Fort Madison plant. A total of 220 will remain at the plant, which has 600,000 square feet. The Fort Madison plant is the largest employer in the city.
The layoff will be the second in Iowa this year. Clipper Windpower in Cedar Rapids reduced its workforce there by 76 workers of its 300 employees beginning on Aug. 27.
Wind energy interests have warned that job losses are inevitable if the 2.2 cents per kilowatt hour production tax credit is not renewed by congress before its Dec. 31 expiration.
U.S. Sen. Charles Grassley said that the tax credit is part of a package of so-called "extenders," also including the $1 per gallon tax credit for biodiesel, that are to be taken up by congress after the November election.