FALL RIVER – The global wind blade manufacturer TPI Composites will open a Wind Blade Innovation Center in Fall River, Mass. Gov. Deval Patrick announced Wednesday.
The Arizona-based company will initially develop a 69,000 square-foot wind blade manufacturing center at 63 Water St. and is also planning a second phase expansion to double its space and production capacity.
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The center is expected to create at least 30 engineering and technical jobs and has been awarded a $250,000 grant by the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center, contingent upon creating and maintaining those jobs.
“The opening of this new TPI Composites location is very exciting for Fall River. Not only does it bring vital jobs to our city, but this reflects well for the region that we are doing something right to attract businesses on the cutting edge of sustainable technology,” said Mass. Rep. David Sullivan.
Rhode Island officials said the decision by TPI to open in Fall River was not a blow to Rhode Island’s attempt to woo renewable energy companies to Quonset Business Park in North Kingstown.
“TPI’s expansion to Fall River demonstrates the continuing growth in the green sector within the compact Southeastern New England economy, which shares borders, workforce and commercial assets,” said Keith Stokes, executive director of the R.I. Economic Development Corporation. “As the green industry grows in this regional economy, additional companies are more likely to expand and relocate to Rhode Island.”
In February, the Rhode Island secured $22.3 million in federal stimulus money to upgrade the infrastructure at Quonset and purchase a crane for Davisville Port, with an eye toward creating a hub for wind turbine assembly. Deepwater Wind, which has proposed wind farms off the coast of Rhode Island, has also agreed to lease land at the part to assemble its turbines.
TPI Composites, originally founded in Warren, Rhode Island, supplies wind turbine blades to Mitsubishi and General Electric. The company says it has manufactured more than 10,000 wind blades during the last 10 years.
Am I reading this correctly? There has to be more because, with just the info in this article, it looks like Mass gets at least 30 high-end jobs and only had to put in $250K to entice relocation there??!! And this is a company with its original roots in RI. I’m curious how this is not a blow to RI efforts to woo exactly this type of company. If MA was the winner, someone was the loser … or was RI not even in the game?
This is another example of failed effort by the EDC in keeping this company in RI.This is what happens when you have inexperienced economic development propfessionals running the show along with the best and brightest neanderthals on the EDC Board. Keith Stokes spin on these happenings is beginning to get tiresome.Does anybody really believe the company’s move to Fall River was precipitated by wanting to be closer to there Warren location as opposed to Quonset Point? Forget this regional green economy pirouette, Rhode Islanders need jobs, jobs now..