Wind turbine maker bringing jobs to town

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Updated: February 9, 2012 11:07PM

NORTH VERNON (AP) — A wind turbine manufacturer has moved into the former home of a large southern Indiana employer that closed a decade ago.

The Republic of Columbus reports that Windstream Technologies moved to North Vernon last year to take over the space formerly occupied by Regal Rugs. The rug company closed in 2001 and was once one of Jennings County’s largest employers.

The turbine maker currently employs 25 people, but Windstream owner Dan Bates says the factory could add another 100 employees by 2015.

The company’s wind turbine can produce up to 500 watts of power in 40 mile-per-hour winds. About 1,100 people are employed statewide in the wind power industry.

The Windstream turbines are for both residential and commercial use. Bates says they could be on shelves within a year.