Ventower ribbon cutting ceremony of the brand new plant that will build wind turbine towers in the port of Monroe. U.S. Rep. John Dingell center. (WWJ Photo / Mike Campbell)
Reporting Mike Campbell
MONROE (WWJ) – It’s another step in renewable energy in Michigan as a new wind turbine plant opens in Monroe.
James Viciana, Chairman of the Board of Ventower Industries, introduced the brand new 150,000-square foot plant built in Monroe where they will build these wind turbine towers.
“We are proud to be here in the port of Monroe, in the City of Monroe, in the State of Michigan, in the United States,” said Viciana on Tuesday.
Viciana said they are in a port for a particular reason.
“We can ship by water,” said Viciana. “We are the only tower manufacturer that can do that.”
The plant helped create 35 mostly welding jobs. When fully up and running, it could employ up to 150 people.
Viciana said the U.S. is behind Canada and other countries in the implementation of wind towers and green energy, but he does say we will see them in the water soon. He said the market is now ready.
“It’s clear that there will be wind towers and turbines built in the mid-west,” said Viciana. “We have a radius of about 500 miles by land that we can service and in the Great Lakes.”
When they are at full production, Ventower will be able to produce 300 of these towers per year, each of which are 300-feet-tall and 16-feet in diameter.
