Wind power company expands Eaton Rapids plans

The company said it plans to make more components in Eaton Rapids rather than importing them from abroad. The size of the new plant was not immediately available.

URV makes castings for wind turbines. It has received a $3.5 million state grant to research and develop wind turbine materials and an additional $3.5 million grant and $500,000 loan through the U.S. stimulus plan for the foundry.

Construction on the foundry, announced today Gov. Jennifer Granholm’s office, will begin in January 2011 and will be completed by the end of that year.

“We’ve had larger-than-anticipated success in securing new orders from North American wind turbine manufacturers,” said URV USA’s chief financial officer, Blaire Miller. “They have already placed orders for next few years.”

Hiring is expected to begin in the late summer of 2011 and will be coordinated through work force development agency Michigan Works, she said.

URV will work with Eaton Rapids-based Astraeus Wind Energy Inc, which will be a supplier to URV. The companies will be located next to each other on Marlin Street.

Barbara Wieland, www.lansingstatejournal.com