HUTCHINSON, Kan.— As the Siemens Gamesa plant remains quiet in Hutchinson, company CEO Jochen Eickholt paid a visit to the US to address wind energy and the company. The plant has been closed since July, when logistical and economic pressure forced the company to close the Hutchinson and Fort Madison, Iowa plants.
According to Andrew Luther with SG, the company continues to pursue new orders for on-shore projects and is still waiting on development of two potential projects for which letters of intent have been taken. Luther says the passing of the Inflation Reduction Act is important for the industry and the company is reviewing its hibernation schedule for both facilities in light of the expected impact on onshore wind development in the US. Still, the company was not in a position to comment on specific timelines at this point in the process.
Eickholt had this to say after his visit to the SG corporate facility in Orlando, Florida.
“I’ve just returned from an amazing whistle-stop tour of the US, which left me inspired and optimistic about our future at Siemens Gamesa. It was an honor to meet so many of the fantastic people who are driving #WindEnergy in the region. At our training center in #Orlando, I saw our commitment to learning and development in action, with new recruits and experienced technicians gaining critical skills to fuel our work into the future. I met with many leaders to discuss the rapid development of both offshore and onshore wind – very timely, as we will focus more heavily on the US with the passing of the #InflationReductionAct. We are ready to address the market’s challenges and maximize the abundant opportunities ahead by focusing on safety, celebrating diversity, welcoming bright new talent, fostering new innovation such as #GreenHydrogen, and building an integrated approach to product development. I am grateful to the colleagues and customers who took the time to share their knowledge, insights and commitment to strengthening our business and fighting #ClimateChange. Together, we will accomplish great things.”
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