Siemens Transports First Wind Turbine Nacelles by Rail From New U.S. Factory

ORLANDO, Fla., May 5, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Using a greener, more reliable and cost-effective method of transportation, Siemens transported 22 wind turbine nacelles and hubs by rail from its new wind turbine nacelle assembly facility in Hutchinson, Kansas, yesterday. Shipping the 87-metric-ton nacelles by train has significant efficiency and environmental benefits, including an up to 80 percent carbon footprint reduction compared to truck transportation over long distances.

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"I'm very pleased that we mark yet another milestone in our quest to provide leading-edge wind turbine technology in the U.S.," said Jan Kjaersgaard, Vice President and General Manager of Siemens' Wind Power business in the Americas. "We are transporting our first nacelles from our newly opened wind turbine nacelle assembly facility in Hutchinson, Kansas. And, we are shipping them by rail, which offers the greatest efficiency and environmental benefits. I am very proud to work for a company that not only makes products that are good for the environment, but that also operates in a way that is environmentally responsible." 

In addition to the nacelles - the structure atop of a wind turbine tower that holds the electricity generating components - and hubs, Siemens Energy is also transporting towers and blades via rail to various projects throughout the U.S.  

The inaugural shipment of 22 wind turbine nacelles and hubs is headed to Puget Sound Energy's (PSE) Lower Snake River Wind Project near Pomeroy, Washington, where they will be combined with blades from Siemens' Fort Madison, Iowa, wind turbine blade manufacturing facility and towers for installation. Phase I of the Lower Snake River Wind Project is PSE's third and largest wind-power facility. When completed in 2012, the new 343-megawatt (MW) facility will produce enough electricity to power more than 100,000 households and boost the Washington utility's total wind-power generating capacity to 773 MW.  

"Puget Sound Energy's wind-power facilities are producing clean, green energy for tens of thousands of homes and businesses, and with our new Siemens turbines, I'm thrilled to say, we're also helping to generate new green jobs for American workers," said Kimberly Harris, PSE president and CEO.

In December 2010, Siemens officially opened its 300,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Hutchinson, Kansas, which produces nacelles for the company's 2.3-MW and 3.0-MW wind turbines. The facility currently employs approximately 200 people, a number that is expected to double when the factory is fully operational. Approximately 700 people are employed at Siemens' wind turbine blade factory in Iowa.

Wind Power is an important part of Siemens' Environmental Portfolio. In fiscal 2010, revenue from the Portfolio totaled about EUR28 billion, making Siemens the world's largest supplier of environmentally friendly technologies. In the same period, Siemens' products and solutions enabled customers to reduce their carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 270 million tons, an amount equal to the total annual CO2 emissions of the combined megacities Hong Kong, London, New York, Tokyo, Delhi and Singapore.

A video on the opening of the Hutchinson plant can be seen here:  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xSJHT5j7Xs

The Siemens Energy Sector is the world's leading supplier of a complete spectrum of products, services and solutions for the generation, transmission and distribution of power and for the extraction, conversion and transport of oil and gas. In fiscal 2010 (ended September 30), the Energy Sector had revenues of approximately EUR25.8 billion and received new orders totaling more than EUR30.1 billion and posted a profit of more than EUR3.5 billion. On September 30, 2010, the Energy Sector had a work force of more than 88,000. Further information is available at: www.siemens.com/energy.

Washington state's oldest local energy utility, Puget Sound Energy serves more than 1 million electric customers and 750,000 natural gas customers in 11 counties.  A subsidiary of Puget Energy, PSE meets the energy needs of its growing customer base through incremental, cost-effective energy efficiency, procurement of sustainable energy resources, and far-sighted investment in the energy-delivery infrastructure. PSE employees are dedicated to providing great customer service and delivering energy that is safe, reliable, reasonably priced, and environmentally responsible. For more information, visit www.PSE.com.  

SOURCE Siemens Energy, Inc.